Former American gymnast Laurie Hernandez reflected on her appearance on the Dancing with the Stars show while it celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 11, 2025. Hernandez participated in the show in 2016 after her successful run at the Rio Olympics. At the Rio Games, she collected a gold and silver medal in the team and balance beam events, respectively. Hernandez was the youngest participant and was paired with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, who is also competing in the 34th season with social media influencer Alix Earle. The show kicked off in 2005. For the 20th Anniversary celebration, episode 9 of the 34th season will feature the current participants pairing up with former champions. As the show marked its 20th anniversary, Hernandez reflected on her appearance, stating that being a 16-year-old on the show was terrifying. She also expressed her gratitude towards Chmerkovskiy. The former gymnast, who is currently majoring in drama at NYU, credited dancing for her new passion."In honor of the 20th year of @dancingwiththestars , I HAD to post a lil bundle of pics!! to this day, being a part of this show was one of my favorite things in the world, especially cause I got to be @valentin ‘s partner."She added:being 16 is scary. being 16 on dwts should’ve been terrifying.I’m currently at NYU as a drama major, and dare I say this dance was what kickstarted it all??"Hernandez also penned a warming message for Jordan Chiles, who is participating in the current edition of the show. (p.s., @jordanchiles bby I LOVE you too I’m so proud of you!!) View this post on Instagram Instagram PostHernandez and her partner lifted the mirrorball trophy in 2016. Laurie Hernandez opens up about the importance of attending therapy Laurie Hernandez poses for a portrait. (Photo by Getty Images)Laurie Hernandez once spoke about the importance of attending therapy, stating that being honest during the sessions is the best part. She experienced depression and ADHD as an adult, and since then has been vocal about mental health. The former gymnast has previously admitted to taking therapy and medication to deal with the mental setbacks. Speaking about the importance of mental health to news.ecu.edu, she said:“I love therapy. I prioritize it by not canceling on my therapist,” she said. “I think the best part about therapy is being honest. Taking time to understand where you are in life, what you are doing, how you feel and self-reflection is wonderful.”Laurie Hernandez joined Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman in winning the gold medal in Rio.