Laurie Hernandez just turned 17, and weβre flipping out!
It seems like it was only yesterday that the New Jersey native, then 16, joined the U.S. womenβs gymnastics Olympic team, making her the youngest member of the βFinal Fiveβ and the first U.S.-born Latina to make the team in more than three decades.
Hernandez has since gone on to win a silver and gold Olympic medal, dance her way to victory on βDancing with the Stars,β release a memoir and, of course, conquer our hearts.
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So as Hernandez, whose birthday is June 9, prepares to embark on another trip around the sun, weβre celebrating with 17 impressive photos of the talented athlete in action.
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Dilip Vishwanat via Getty Images
Tim Clayton - Corbis via Getty Images