By Alena Bitonti
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Less than one month after “Saturday Night Live” star Marcello Hernandez performed a sold-out comedy show for students, the College Union Board brought another big name to campus: Laurie Hernandez, an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics.
On March 4, Hernandez delivered a heartfelt lecture in Mayo Concert Hall, sharing her journey from childhood gymnastics to success, while emphasizing the importance of mental health and self-care.
Doors for the event opened at 8:00 p.m. and the show began at 8:30 p.m. Students lined up early to secure their seats, as the event was first come, first serve and not ticketed.
“I wanted to come to Laurie Hernandez because I think she is such an amazing gymnast,” said Isabela Sanchez, a junior elementary education and art major.
In an interview with The Signal, members of CUB Live shared that it was initially uncertain whether they would host a lecture this semester. However, they were eager to bring an athlete to campus, as it had been quite some time since one had visited.
“We thought Laurie would be a perfect fit and a great way to kick off Women’s History Month,” said junior interdisciplinary business major Harrison Fehn.
Throughout her lecture, Hernandez shared about the mental challenges she faced during her career. She often found herself thinking the worst and struggled with anxiety during competitions. She credited her parents’ unwavering support for helping her persevere, saying, “Without that, I would not be sitting right in front of you right now.”
Hernandez spoke about her start in gymnastics at 5 years old. She recalled watching gymnastics on television, and knowing she wanted to do what those athletes were doing.
By 2013, Hernandez qualified for the U.S. junior national team and scored second. She shared that a major injury in early 2014, in which she dislocated her kneecap and tore her patellar tendon, took her out of the sport for some time.
After experiencing signs of burnout, Hernandez spoke about how she quit gymnastics in 2016. Although it only lasted three days, she ultimately learned the importance of pacing herself and taking breaks.
The gymnast attempted a comeback for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, moving across the country to train. However, she was injured again during warmups. It was during this time away from gymnastics that she began to consider what life after the sport might look like.
“Be patient with yourself. Give yourself time,” she told the audience. “If you don’t feel like you have your footing, you’re gonna get it.”
Hernandez realized her passion for the arts and her aspirations in television and film. Now a drama student at New York University with a creative writing minor, she is able to explore her creativity.
After the lecture was a question and answer session moderated by Ally Uhlendorf, CUB’s travel chair and The Signal’s managing editor.
When asked about her favorite Olympic memory off the mat, the gymnast shared a fun anecdote about slingshotting scrunchies out the window while living in the Olympic Village — a lighthearted moment amid the intensity of competition.
Hernandez emphasized the need for more mental health resources and open conversations. She stressed the importance of discussing mental health without judgement, both for oneself and others, and encouraged students to take their emotions seriously and work with them rather than against them.
To find more CUB events like this one, visit their Instagram page @tcnjcub.
