Former gymnast Laurie Hernandez recently revealed her relationship with another ex-gymnast, Charlie Drury, by sharing a heartfelt message on social media. She made the announcement just before the conclusion of Pride Month.
Hernandez, who retired from gymnastics in 2021 following the Tokyo Olympics, recently graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in performing arts, majoring in drama. She also made her Broadway debut in the musical & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, which continued from March 17 to June 14.
She performed as a featured dancer in the ensemble role of Charmion. In addition, she also worked as an on-air broadcasting analyst for NBC at the 2026 Winter Olympics, following her commentary stint at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Recently, Hernandez opened up about her relationship with Drury, revealing that they met while training for the Tokyo Olympics.
Opening up about their story and the challenges they faced in the early stages of their relationship, Hernandez also discussed Charlie Drury’s diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes. In celebration of Pride Month, she took to Instagram and shared an adorable picture with her partner alongside a lengthy, heartwarming note that read:
“My girlfriend and I met training for the Tokyo Olympics. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just a few months before the Games, yet she continued training. I had gotten injured at championships that year, but was asked to commentate at Tokyo anyways. And so somehow, both of us still made it, in our own shape and form. We were in Tokyo at the same time but physically separated. And my god was it a painful summer. It was grief of lost opportunity, of self, of change, of everything. No one had any idea that 2 sapphic Olympians were at the Tokyo 2021 Games, simply ready to get back home to each other,” wrote Laurie Hernandez.
She added:
“Charlie and I are now both retired (from sport. we still work lol). we are the opposite of the environments we grew up competing in. We are soft, and patient. We are not competitive with each other (except when playing chess, or gin rummy, or any sort of board game. My dear, I will smoke your ass). Our workouts mostly involve belly laughs and carrying our chairs to the park. And dancing. And bouncing on the occasional trampoline. Happy pride to us. To say I’m proud is an understatement.”
Hernandez began gymnastics at the age of five and rose to prominence during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she became the first US-born Latina to earn a spot on the US Gymnastics Olympic team since 1984. After winning a team gold medal in Rio, she took a break and returned in 2018 to train for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, after a knee injury at the 2021 US National Championships, she withdrew from the Tokyo Games and announced her retirement from the sport.
When Laurie Hernandez opened up about her life after gymnastics
In 2023, Laurie Hernandez spoke with Olympics.com at the US Classic, where she opened up about her life after retiring from gymnastics. Reflecting on her journey at New York University’s Tisch School of Arts, she made her feelings known about entering the acting world after gymnastics.
“I got all straight As, except for my movement class, which I probably shouldn’t mention. I don’t know! We get little report cards, and I was like, ‘No way,’” she said. “But yeah, anyways, it averaged out to straight As and I’m really happy about that because I’ve been homeschooled my whole life. There was a little part of me that was like, ‘Okay, I’m really good at gymnastics. Can I be good at anything else?’ And so far, so good. Acting and just the world of entertainment is definitely on the horizon for me,” said Laurie Hernandez.
Hernandez won two Olympic medals in her career, both at the 2016 Games, including one gold in the women’s team event and one silver in the individual balance beam event.
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