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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.
USA Today Sports / Reuters
Laurie Hernandez during the floor exercise in the women's gymnastics U.S. Olympic team trials at SAP Center on July 10, 2016.
Ezra Shaw via Getty Images
Laurie Hernandez of the United States competes on the floor during Women's qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 7, 2016.
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Laurie Hernandez of the United States competes on the balance beam during Women's qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 7, 2016.
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Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters
Laurie Hernandez competes at the Rio Olympic Arena.
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Laurie Hernandez of the United States performs during the Gymnastics Rio Gala on Day 12 of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on Aug. 17, 2016.
Damir Sagolj / Reuters
Laurie Hernandez of the USA competes on the floor during the women's team final at the Rio Olympic Arena.
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Mike Blake / Reuters
Laurie Hernandez of the USA competes at the Rio Olympic Arena.
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U.S. gymnast Laurie Hernandez competes in the qualifying for the women's Vault event of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 7, 2016.
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Laurie Hernandez of the United States performing her routine, which won her the silver medal in the Women's Balance Beam Final during the Artistic Gymnastics competition at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 15, 2016
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Laurie Hernandez of the United States practices a vault during an artistic gymnastics training session on Aug. 4, 2016, at the Rio Olympic Arena.
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Laurie Hernandez of the United States practices a floor routine during an artistic gymnastics training session on Aug. 4, 2016, at the Rio Olympic Arena.
Ezra Shaw via Getty Images
Laurie Hernandez of the United States competes on the balance beam during Day 2 of the 2016 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships at Xfinity Arena on April 9, 2016.
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U.S. gymnast Laurie Hernandez competes in the Beam event during the women's team final Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 9, 2016.
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Laurie Hernandez competes on the uneven bars during Day 2 of the 2016 P&G Gymnastics Championships at Chafitz Arena on June 26, 2016.
Ezra Shaw via Getty Images
Laurie Hernandez of the United States competes on the balance beam during Day 2 of the 2016 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships at Xfinity Arena on April 9, 2016.
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Dilip Vishwanat via Getty Images
Laurie Hernandez competes in the floor exercise during Day 1 of the 2016 P&G Gymnastics Championships at Chafitz Arena on June 24, 2016.
Tim Clayton - Corbis via Getty Images
Laurie Hernandez of the United States performing her routine on the balance beam during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 9, 2016.
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