Olympic gold and silver medalist Laurie Hernandez is one of only a few Latinas to ever have represented the U.S. in the Olympic Games.

Since competing in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, the dynamic gymnast has gone on to find success as a competitive dancer, an author and a fierce advocate for mental health awareness; she currently is in training for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.

Hernandez will talk about her Latin heritage and social equality, her Olympic experience and mental health awareness during “I Got This: To Gold and Beyond,” this year’s Elmhurst University Roland Quest Lecture. The lecture will be presented virtually on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Competing as a member of the “Final Five” U.S. women’s gymnastics team during the 2016 Summer Olympics, Hernandez won gold in the team event and silver on the balance beam. Since then, the gymnast’s charisma and grace helped her to win Dancing with the Stars, and she has shared her inspirational story in a New York Times best seller and a children’s picture book.

“I Got This. To Gold and Beyond” will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. Admission to this virtual event is $5 for the general public and free for Elmhurst University students, faculty, staff and alumni. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. For more information, call (630) 617-5186 or email [email protected].