By Tim Morris
Every four years, America falls in love with the women’s gymnastics team at the Summer Olympics. Little girls find their role models, and the next generation of gymnasts is born.
Laurie Hernandez, 16, of Old Bridge is one of those young girls who was influenced by the Olympic Games and now finds herself on the other side of the fence. She is one of the five members of the United States Women’s Gymnastic Team headed to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Hernandez, who competes out of the Monmouth Gymnastics Academy (MGA) in Marlboro under the coaching of Maggie Haney — herself a college gymnast at North Carolina State University — finished second in the all-around competition at the Olympic Trials in San Jose, California, July 10 to make the U.S. team.
“It means the whole world to me,” she said at a press conference held at the MGA. “Hearing my name called [as one of the team members] was amazing.
“I still can’t believe it. I’m in awe. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a little girl.”
Hernandez thought back to the 2012 Games in London, recalling how she looked up to American gymnasts. She would like the young girls watching this year’s games to have the same role models.
“I hope I can inspire young gymnasts,” she said.
Being of Puerto Rican descent, Hernandez hope to inspire young Latinos to get into the sport.
The first-time Olympian said she is proud to be representing Old Bridge and the MGA.
“This is where I was built,” she said of the MGA, where, as part of the press conference, she put on an exhibition on the balance beam and uneven bars for the press.
Hernandez said she took the approach that the Olympic Trials were just another meet.
“My mindset was good,” she said.
So was the execution of her routines, as she finished second in the all-around competition.
“I went out there and did what I’ve done in the past,” she pointed out. “I didn’t change anything, and the results were amazing.”
Hernandez’s final event was the dreaded balance beam on which many dreams are broken. She went on the beam knowing that if she could get through it, she could make the team.
“I just had to block everything out,” she said.
She came through, nailing her routine and finishing first in the event to secure her Olympic berth.
Making the Olympic team has capped an incredible rise to the top for Hernandez. The 2015 junior national champion was making her senior debut this year.
Haney said she had an idea that there was something special about her after the gymnast ranked high nationally in several at TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program) — a program for girls gymnasts ages 7-10.
Along with her talent, her coach noted that she enjoys the limelight.
“She loves the attention, she loves the crowd,” she said.
Hernandez making the Olympic team has created excitement at the MGA.
“All the little girls [at the gym] look up to her,” MGA secretary Kelly Alejandro said. “She definitely earned it through a lot of hard work. A lot of blood, sweat and tears.”
The 2012 Olympic Team was all that inspired Hernandez. Another MGA member is headed to Rio. Akash Modi is going as an alternate to the men’s team. A junior at Stanford University, the Edison native was the 2016 NCAA all-around champion.
“This little club produced two Olympians,” Alejando said. “It’s pretty amazing. Once in a lifetime.”
