The two-day U.S. Olympic team trials are over and the road (or mat, in their case) to Rio is set.

Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian and the youngest of the bunch, Laurie Hernandez set the bar high.

We say youngest, but arguably the fiercest competitor.

Sunday was hers for the taking. After a series of unfortunate events over the last few years including a fractured wrist and a knee injury, Hernandez rightfully worked her way to the top. Her sharp footwork, intense beam coordination and overall precision will be one to watch at the Summer Games. The 16 year old is one of the few Latina gymnasts to attain Olympic glory. Pressure, right? Not at all. The newcomer says no matter the outcome, she is proud to represent her heritage.

“I don’t see it as pressure at all. I see it as such an honor to just in some sort of way to represent Puerto Rico and Hispanics, everyone and all the girls out there. I don’t think that being Hispanic, being Black, being white, being anything, I don’t think that limits you to anything so I think that everyone should just go for what they want. ” she said in an interview.

Douglas and Raisman are the first U.S. gymnasts to earn back-to-back Olympic teams since 2000 following Amy Chow and Dominique. Douglas, now 20, is the first Olympic all-around champ to make a second Olympic team since Nadia Comaneci in 1980. The trials proved to be a bit of a challenge for Douglas, falling off the balance beam Friday and again on Sunday.

So how did she pull it off?

The committee made a unanimous decision that Douglas’ muscle on the uneven bars (where the U.S. is known to be weak) and resourcefulness in all four events will pay off in the long run. Douglas, who appeared tearful after the news on Sunday knows there’s work to be done but says she’s up for the challenge.

“I can’t wait to get back in the gym,” she told ESPN. “I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be — but that is going to change. Because I am so determined. And I totally believe more is in me.”

And what can we say about Simone Biles outside of her being an overall badass?

This video says it all.

This is the 19-year old’s first trip to the Olympics, going in as a three-time world champion.

Their cheering section was heard loud and clear in the crowd and on Twitter.

Everyone is riding high especially after the Williams sisters exhilarating performance at Wimbledon Saturday.

Let the games begin!

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Photo: giphy

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