Laurie Hernandez on Simone Biles Tears, Haters, Seth Rogen

Laurie Hernandez is proving she’s as a lot of a pure at commentating the Olympics as she was when competing in them.

The 24-year-old media persona has been incomes scores of reward this summer time for her enthusiastic, insightful and down-to-earth broadcast work as a colour commentator for NBC’s protection of ladies’s inventive gymnastics occasions on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hernandez has loads of expertise dealing with Olympic strain, having gained a gold medal as a member of the U.S. girls’s gymnastics staff often known as the “Final Five” on the 2016 Rio Olympics — alongside teammate Simone Biles — along with a person silver medal for the steadiness beam that yr.

She can be no stranger to the media highlight, having gained the Dancing With the Stars season 23 title in 2016 following the Olympics, along with co-hosting American Ninja Warrior Junior and voicing roles on such animated sequence as The Proud Household: Louder and Prouder. However this summer time’s Olympics have introduced Hernandez, who’s finding out drama at NYU, new legions of followers.

How has it felt to have viewers praising your perspective all through these Video games?

The joy and the optimistic suggestions that I’ve gotten from lots of people on social media, it’s actually been mind-blowing. Even simply in getting this job, being 24 years previous, the imposter syndrome was actually kicking in. (Laughs.) Within the sense of, “I’m an athlete; I went to the Games. Those are my credentials!” I really feel like I used to be embraced with open arms. Additionally, I really feel actually honored that I get to simply be myself on air, and I get to share a few of these actually humorous moments, whereas additionally hopefully nonetheless being technical and informative and bridging that hole between those that could also be actually new followers and little younger gymnasts, to the massive previous gymnastics nerds who know the code of factors merely higher than I do.

Followers beloved your emotional response to Biles profitable the all-around gold. How did it really feel to be there for that?

It’s historical past within the making anytime that she competes. It actually kicked off when Suni [Lee] locked in that rating for bronze. I wasn’t certain the way it was going to go, and often I’ve obtained a very good gist of who that high 5 is. All of them rating fairly equally, and we knew it was going to return down into the tenths. It’s all these little issues that many gymnasts who didn’t get podium may kick themselves within the shin for and assume, “Man, it was a few tenths away.”

So the stress was excessive. I felt myself get choked up after Suni. [Brazil’s] Rebeca Andrade went, and I am keen on her as an athlete as properly. Rebeca is likely one of the greatest athletes on the earth, just like Simone. Simone simply occurs to be higher. (Laughs.) She proved that. Recognizing the load of all of that actually simply caught one thing in my throat whereas we have been on air.

Did you get to say something to Simone?

She’s extremely busy. Her cellphone might be blowing up tenfold proper now. However there was a press convention, and I obtained there about 5 minutes earlier than it ended and weaved my means by the again. As Simone and Suni have been leaving, she had referred to as out and was like, “Hi, Laurie, all the way in the back. I see you!” And I used to be like, “Hey, girl!” However I hope she is aware of simply how proud the whole world is of her. She confirmed up when it counts.

What’s been the largest problem of your new profession path?

Truly, a very surprising problem for me was recognizing technical names of the abilities, and it’s as a rule on the uneven bars. My coaches had all the time referred to sure abilities as a method, and the extra gymnastics protection that I’m doing, it’s so wild to understand that loads of the language wasn’t used. Lots of the abilities weren’t referred to as precisely what they’re. (Laughs.) I might have most well-liked to get punched within the face, however that is high quality. All of it’s a studying second, and we’ve got an unbelievable analysis staff out right here.

It’s been enjoyable for viewers to be taught extra about you thru the broadcasts. Do you bear in mind what made you react to Seth Rogen the way in which you probably did?

He’s only a humorous man! Of all of the those who I might have anticipated to be within the crowd throughout girls’s all-around ultimate on the Olympics, I simply didn’t assume Seth Rogen could be there. I used to be sort of like, “What?” For my very own private causes, I believed it was hilarious.

Did you get to say hello?

No. Sometimes, anyone who’s watching within the crowd in all probability will get escorted out afterwards as a result of the crowds are usually so loopy. Often when the competitors is over, me and the analysis squad will grasp again for fairly a bit till everyone clears out of the sector a bit extra. I are inclined to get swamped if I step out too early, which I’ve discovered. Simply numerous pleasure and pleasure, and as a lot as I wish to appease everybody, it may be actually overwhelming at instances.

You posted about seeing detrimental feedback about your self on social media. Have they continued?

My situation wasn’t with the feedback themselves. Clearly, I desire individuals be type and respectful, however it’s social media, and it’s a world of free speech. Say what you’re going to say. But in addition, I do go on social media. I see what’s being posted, particularly if I’m tagged in it. If I’m tagged, the intent is for me to see it. So my ask was simply that I don’t get tagged into it. Once more, individuals can have their opinion. You’re allowed to utterly hate my commentary. That completely is sensible.

For a few of them, it’s constructive criticism that I take again with me, and I’m like, “You know what? This is a perspective that I didn’t think of before, and I love that somebody brought this up.” It’s not about making an attempt to appease everybody, but when there’s a option to make issues higher and have individuals take pleasure in issues extra, why not? However when it’s unkind and I’m tagged in it, that’s the place I’m like, “Guys, I’m chronically online, too. I just want to scroll in peace.” (Laughs.)

Followers beloved that you just caught Simone’s eye roll throughout her flooring train. Is it enjoyable to supply that insider perception?

It’s actually enjoyable. As a result of I do know these athletes and have simply watched them for thus lengthy, I can watch their physique language and expressions and acknowledge possibly what they could be considering within the second. It helps carry them to a stage that the viewers can digest and due to this fact maintain loads of house and sympathy and compassion for them as properly, whereas additionally realizing it is a second that they could by no means expertise.

Do you miss being on the market, or is that this a special sort of thrill?

For essentially the most half, it’s a special sort of thrill, and I don’t essentially miss being on the market. However I really feel it typically once I’m watching beam. That’s the one which makes my eye twitch somewhat bit once I see beam routines going on the market. I don’t actually really feel that for different occasions. Generally the bug to get out and do a flooring routine only for the sake of getting a great time, that all the time seems like enjoyable to me. Then I notice I might simply take dance courses. (Laughs.) I don’t know if something will take the itch away of doing a beam routine. One thing about that’s so distinctive, and I haven’t been in a position to replicate that in something.

Followers have been encouraging you to pursue extra performing alternatives. May that be in your future?

Completely. I’m presently a drama main at NYU, so I’m working my means into the performing world. Lots of people have been actually shocked by that, however if you happen to ask my mother and father, I had beloved leisure since I used to be somewhat child. I beloved sketch comedy and imitating individuals. Lots of my flooring routine felt that means, of a efficiency and nearly a special persona on the market. So having the ability to mess around with performing and to maintain that facet of efficiency whereas persevering with with life outdoors of sport, that’s positively been an enormous a part of it. Animation and voice performing is considered one of my favourite issues to devour on TV and in addition to be part of. That’s positively the hope.