The U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team reached a new high Tuesday with a visit to the observation deck at the Empire State Building. NY1's Michael Herzenberg filed the following report.
They jumped and vaulted to new heights, winning a U.S. Olympic record nine gymnastics medals. On this day, the "Final Five" of the Women's Olympic Gymnastics team, winners of the team competition in Rio, took the elevator to a new height. Eighty-six floors, to be exact: the observation deck of the Empire State Building.
"It's like crazy with the height, how high we are," said Simone Biles, who won five gold medals in Rio.
Biles has been to New York before. As has Gabby Douglas, who won the all-around gold in 2012. But that didn't make the visit any less exciting.
"Four years later, it still feels amazing," Douglas said. "It's a nice day, and the view's just stunning."
Laurie Hernandez has seen it before, too. The 16-year-old is from New Jersey.
"A little bit. I mean, there's a lot of media going on, which is pretty cool," Hernandez said.
These giants of gymnastics are mostly about 5 feet tall, compact visitors to one of the world's tallest buildings.
The excitement will continue though. They're going on the Kellogg's Tour of Champions to 36 American cities.
"It's very exciting. It's incredible," said team member Aly Raisman.
Raisman, the oldest at 22, would likely be in college if she wasn't the all-around and floor silver medalist.
"I've taken a couple of classes at Babson College, and this year, I didn't do any school, and this year, I'll probably continue to just, we're going on tour and everything is crazy. The following year I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do. But definitely looking into schools right now," Raisman said.
The Olympians met some other celebrities Tuesday, like Usher and Henry Winkler, who was Mr. Cool as the Fonz in the 70s. But no one is cooler than these girls now.
"When you're happy and your enjoying yourself and work hard, that's when amazing and special things really happen," Raisman said.