High school students typically use their long summer holidays to take a break after a demanding academic year. In rare cases, however, a summer break can also be the time to make history and win an Olympic gold medal—at just 16 years old. That was the case for Hezly Rivera.
Rivera was born and raised in New Jersey to Dominican parents and grew up much like other children in her community. She spent weekends at family gatherings and often visited her grandmother, who cooked her favorite Dominican dishes, including moro con carne and fried plantains with cheese.
