Even in Simone Biles' Shadow, Laurie Hernandez Is USA's Rising Star Gymnast

The United States' Olympic gymnastics trials lacked drama this weekend in San Jose, California, because everyone correctly predicted the five who made the team.

But if there's a storyline worth talking about coming out of the trials, it's the emergence of Laurie Hernandez. 

The 16-year-old, nicknamed the "Human Emoji," finished second in the all-around to favorite Simone Biles.

Biles is so dominant in this sport that it's a foregone conclusion she will win gold in Rio de Janeiro. She's already won three straight world championships, the first woman to do so, and she's the most dominant gymnast the sport has seen.

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Hernandez, meanwhile, is a rookie on the senior level, and with her performance in San Jose, she has arguably unseated Aly Raisman as the best American gymnast not named Biles.

Think about that for a second.

This is a 16-year-old rookie knocking a savvy veteran from the runner-up spot. Raisman was a member of the 2012 Olympic team and nearly won bronze in the all-around in London.

Try to imagine a rookie rising to stardom like that in another sport. It would be like No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons finishing runner-up to LeBron James or Steph Curry in the MVP next season. That just doesn't happen. 

A year ago, Hernandez was winning the junior all-around world championship, but she would not have been on the list of favorites to go to Rio. Now, she's not only going to Brazil, she has a great chance to win multiple medals while there. 

Hernandez stole the show on Friday night in San Jose with her sassy floor routine that is already a hit on YouTube.

On Sunday, Hernandez finished the night with a near-flawless balance beam to secure second place in the all-around.

She gives the Americans a much-needed steady presence on beam, which appeared to be layered with ice in San Jose. Everyone was falling, even Biles, but Hernandez crushed her performances. She recorded the two highest scores on beam at trials, winning the crowd over in the process.

The Americans have so much depth that a team gold also is considered a foregone conclusion in Rio. So more attention will be paid to the individual battles. Many eyes will be on Hernandez and Raisman to see who gets to compete in the all-around—only two per country are allowed. 

Biles has the other spot locked down. She deserves the star treatment in Rio. When you watch her, you get the sense you're witnessing greatness. She executes with such confidence, and most of her routines have a higher degree of difficulty than anyone else's. 

However, the world is going to fall in love with Hernandez, who might become just as big a star in Rio as Biles, especially if she gets the nod to compete in all-around. 

Audiences love a little pizzazz, especially in a performance-based sport like gymnastics, and Hernandez delivers every time. She's the first United States-born gymnast of Hispanic origin to make the team since 1984—her grandparents are from Puerto Rico—and she's got that Caribbean flair. Representing her proud heritage is a fact not lost on the teenager. 

“Si Dios lo quiere (If God wishes), to represent the US as the only Latina gymnast would be such an honor,” Hernandez told Luis Miguel Echegaray of the Guardian on Friday. “I feel I could be a role model to other Hispanic gymnasts interested in the sport but I also want them to understand the importance of being focused, determined, and not giving up, despite all the struggles.”

Heading into Rio, make sure you know the name Biles—she's the Michael Jordan of her sport. 

But get to know Hernandez as well. She might just be gymnastics' Pistol Pete: the athlete we can't take our eyes off.