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Robert Hanashiro | USA Today

Meet gymnastics' rising star

Laurie Hernandez, a 16-year-old Old Bridge native, will be part of the five-athlete gymnastics team after her stellar performance at the U.S. trials this weekend. Scroll through the gallery to learn more about her, and click on share to send this to other fans.

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1. The floor routine is her thing

She electrified the crowd with her performance in the floor routine -- the gymnastics discipline where the athletes can truly perform and show their emotion -- at the Olympic trials in San Jose, Calif. Watch for yourself.

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Kyle Terada | USA Today

2. She is "naturally sassy"

Those are the words of her longtime coach Maggie Haney. "You can see dance choreography from her floor routines when she was 9, 10, 11, all through the years," she told ESPN when describing her performance. "But with added sass, because she is naturally so sassy." Do you get extra points for that? You should.

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3. She's making history

She is the first U.S.-born Hispanic athlete to make the U.S. women's gymnastics Olympic team since Tracee Talavera at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Hernandez's grandparents are from Puerto Rico.

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Kyle Terada | USA Today Sports

4. Ballet bored her

Her parents signed her up for a ballet and dance class when she was 5, but they had to bribe her with sugar cookies just to get her in the door. That's when gymnastics caught her eye, and she was a natural.

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Robert Hanashiro | USA Today Sports

5. Her name is Lauren

But, with several other Laurens at her gymnastics class, she went with Laurie to separate herself. Hey, given her success now, maybe THEY should have used a different name.

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David J. Phillip | AP Photo

6. Her nickname is the "Human Emoji"

The nickname, of course, is because of her many facial expressions. Although it sure seems like the smiley emoticon is used the most, doesn't it?

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7. She does a mean bug impression

It's spot on, right?

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Kyle Terada | USA Today Sports

8. She's a great teammate

Throughout the Olympic trials, it was Hernandez who usually greeted the other Team USA gymnasts as they finished their routines. In a competitive sport where only five of the athletes make the team, that's a nice show of sportsmanship.

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Kyle Terada | USA Today Sports

9. She's fought through injuries

In 2014, according to NBC Sports, she first fractured her wrist and then dislocated her right kneecap, tearing her patella ligament and bruising her MCL on a bad landing. The knee injuries required surgery and a piece of a cadaver's knee was attached to her own. Gymnasts are tough.

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Robert Hanashiro | USA Today Sports

10. Her parents don't sweat the details

Her mother, Wanda, doesn't want to learn her routines. Here's what she told USA Today to explain why: "I didn't want to ever say, 'Did you do X wrong?' I want to enjoy her for being my daughter. I see the potential and what she has, but I'm a mom and I'm going to see it through a mom's eyes."

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11. She's very well spoken

Watch her answer a question about feeling pressure at the Olympic trials. It's easy to marvel: She just turned 16?

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Associated Press file photo

12. 16 is a golden age in gymnastics

Americans Gabby Douglas, Carly Patterson and Mary Lou Retton (shown here) all won Olympic gold medals in the all-around at age 16. Can Hernandez do the same? It won't be easy: Teammate Simone Biles is considered a heavy favorite. Still, she certainly has risen to the occasion so far.

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When you find out you're going to the olympics>> pic.twitter.com/st3A26seDM — Laurie Hernandez (@LaurieHernandez) July 11, 2016

13. She is PUMPED

That's video of her and her teammates celebrating in the locker room after getting the good news that they were Rio bound. The Olympics are a serious business for most athletes, but it's clear that Hernandez will be packing some joy for the trip.

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