An Olympic athlete’s dad wore a heart monitor while watching her compete and the results are pretty incredible.
Hezly Rivera is an American gymnast who is currently taking part in the Paris Olympics.
Turning just 16 last month, she’s the youngest Olympian on the American team.
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On Sunday, she made her debut competing on the balance beam and uneven bars.
It was during her performance on the bars that NBC made the decision to have Rivera’s dad, Henry, wear a heart monitor while watching her.
It made for some theatrical viewing as the broadcaster kept track of how fast his heart rate was going during Rivera’s appearance.
It’s safe to say that Henry Rivera was really going through it. The average resting heart rate is 60 to 100 bpm but as his daughter took to the bars, Henry’s was already going at 164 bpm.
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His heart was racing like he was undergoing an intense workout instead of sitting still in his seat.
At its peak, Henry’s heart pounded at a rapid 181 bpm.
Viewers watching the events unfold were very amused by the situation.
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Taking to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts, one user wrote: “Ok. Putting a heart-rate monitor on gymnast Hezly Rivera’s Dad was brilliant TV from @NBCOlympics. He was at 164 BPM as she was about to start. That’s like he was all-out sprinting.”
A second posted: “The heart rate monitor for Henry Rivera on @NBCOlympics is great theater!! But can we just keep an eye on him? I mean 180 bpm!? Dude feelin it for his girl!!!”
A third wrote: “they're tracking her dad's heart rate as she performs, what are the bets that it's higher than hezly's is.”
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A fourth person said: “Henry Rivera was sitting in that stadium with a higher heart rate than I get while jogging.”
And a fifth added: “Hezly Rivera’s dad about to have a heart attack or stroke with that 180 bpm sitting still. #OlympicGames”
Rivera scored 13.900 in the uneven bars which helped the team USA gain the top overall score to advance to the medal rounds of the team all-around.
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However, it was announced that the teen wouldn’t be competing in the team final alongside her teammates Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, after receiving a low score in the balance beam.
But despite not being able to take part, Rivera went on to win a gold medal as part of the Women’s Artistic Team All-Around.