Get To Know Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez & Sam Mikulak Before Rio Summer Olympic Games!

Laurie Hernandez
Age: 16
Hometown: Old Bridge, N.J.

Laurie admits that she was once scared of even being on the beam — when she hopped on she’d settle into a squat because she couldn’t summon the courage to stand. Coach Maggie Haney put her through “pressure sets” designed to force her into a choice: get mentally tough or find something else to do with your free time.

“I was like, ‘Why are you doing this to me? It’s so annoying, you’re really really making me anxious,’” Laurie said, who scored the top score on the beam at the trials. “But then I look back and I can only thank her for that because it’s made me so calm today.”