NJ’s Laurie Hernandez Named Double G Sports’ Female Athlete and Most Inspirational Athlete of the Year 2016

Laurie Hernandez (Getty Images / Ronald Martinez)

In the final six months of 2016, New Jersey’s Laurie Hernandez has earned gold and silver medals at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics as a member of the USA women’s gymnastics team and not only competed on the 23rd season of the ABC hit show Dancing with the Stars, but won the coveted Mirrorball trophy. At 16 years old, she is the youngest winner in the show’s history.

A native of Old Bridge Township, Hernandez started her gymnastics training at just 6-years old. After 10 years of training, she made her senior debut in March of 2016.

Nominated along side other top athletes in their respective sports, Hernandez’s impressive accomplishments over the last 12 months earned her both the Double G Sports Female Athlete of the Year and the Most Inspirational Athlete of the Year for 2016.

Other finalists for Female Athlete of the Year included UFC Women’s Bantamweight Katlyn Chookagain, Women’s Boxing Champion Heather “The Heat” Hardy and the WNBA’s New York Liberty forward Tina Charles. Finalists for Most Inspirational Athlete of the Year included Gary Sanchez of the New York Yankees, Wagner Swimming & Diving’s Amanda Lucia and Monmouth Soccer’s Gabriella Cuevas.