New Jersey Native Earns Spot On US Olympic Gymnastics Team

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Jersey girl has made the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team and will compete in Rio de Janeiro.

Laurie Hernandez, of Old Bridge, is the first U.S.-born Latina to go to the Olympics since 1984.

Hernandez will be joined by three-time world gymnastics champion Simone Biles, defending Olympic champion Gabby Douglas, three-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman, and Madison Kocian. MyKayla Skinner, Ragan Smith and Ashton Locklear are the alternates.

"These girls, they have so much experience and I'm kind of acting as if I have the experience too just so I could be on the same mental page as them and it's definitely working," the 16-year-old rookie said.

After earning her spot on the team, Hernandez posted a short video clip of her and her teammates celebrating.

She later wrote, "this is surreal omg."

She also has a lot of fans on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Biles secured her spot on the U.S. Olympic team with a near flawless tour of the SAP Center on Sunday night. Douglas, who's been struggling recently, finished third on uneven bars.

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