During the Texas Rangers series against the New York Yankees, Rangers Stadium received a very special visitor.
Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Hezly Rivera threw out the (ceremonial) first pitch before the Yankees-Rangers game on Wednesday. But that wasn’t all she did…
Before throwing the ball, the lithe teenager removed the 1.17-pound gold medal from around her neck and placed it on the mound of the diamond at Globe Life Field. Then, she did her signature aerial side turn that earned her a gold medal at the Paris Summer Olympics in July, and threw a perfect strike to Rangers infielder Justin Foscue at the plate.
The crowd was so excited that they cheered enthusiastically for the 16-year-old Plano resident. Rivera and her family reportedly moved from New Jersey to the Dallas area so the young athlete of Dominican descent would have a better chance of qualifying for the Olympics.
Hezly admitted she was nervous, perhaps more so than competing at the Olympics because she trained hard and was prepared for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Related: Simon Biles highlights the laws of gravity and patriarchy
For pitching, he said he only practiced once with his brother before throwing the baseball.
“It was a little bit stressful because I don’t play baseball, but it was a great experience, a lot of fun,” she said afterward. “I didn’t think I could throw straight and so well, so I’m proud of myself.”
Rivera, whose parents are from the Dominican Republic, was the youngest American to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the French capital. Her gold medal came in the team competition.
Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Hezly Rivera threw out the (ceremonial) first pitch before the Yankees-Rangers game on Wednesday. But that wasn’t all she did…
Before throwing the ball, the lithe teenager removed the 1.17-pound gold medal from around her neck and placed it on the mound of the diamond at Globe Life Field. Then, she did her signature aerial side turn that earned her a gold medal at the Paris Summer Olympics in July, and threw a perfect strike to Rangers infielder Justin Foscue at the plate.
The crowd was so excited that they cheered enthusiastically for the 16-year-old Plano resident. Rivera and her family reportedly moved from New Jersey to the Dallas area so the young athlete of Dominican descent would have a better chance of qualifying for the Olympics.
Hezly admitted she was nervous, perhaps more so than competing at the Olympics because she trained hard and was prepared for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Related: Simon Biles highlights the laws of gravity and patriarchy
For pitching, he said he only practiced once with his brother before throwing the baseball.
“It was a little bit stressful because I don’t play baseball, but it was a great experience, a lot of fun,” she said afterward. “I didn’t think I could throw straight and so well, so I’m proud of myself.”
Rivera, whose parents are from the Dominican Republic, was the youngest American to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the French capital. Her gold medal came in the team competition.
