ST. LOUIS (AP) — Laurie Hernandez walked onto the floor at the U.S. gymnastics championships in 2012 and did what most kids do if they happen to see their role models just sort of hanging out.
She kinda freaked.
"I remember fangirling because there were all these Olympians, all these world champions around me," Hernandez said. "I was mesmerized."
Four years later, Hernandez is the one doing the mesmerizing.
Two weeks removed from her 16th birthday, the girl from New Jersey is rapidly becoming the latest "It Girl" in a group already jam-packed with star power.