Since bringing home the Gold and Silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Hernandez has gone on to win the coveted Mirror ball trophy on "Dancing with the Stars" season 23 and her first book titled "I Got This: To Gold and Beyond" chronicling her journey thus far was published in 2017, hitting the New York Times Best Sellers list.  In 2018, she released a children's picture book "She's Got This" with Harper Collins Children's Books, also a New York Times Best Seller, while serving as a Literacy Champion to promote readership as a path to leadership, and Mattel created a Laurie Hernandez "Shero" Barbie to honor her. 

She is a second generation American, as her grandparents are from Puerto Rico, making her the first U.S. born Latina to make the U.S. team since 1984. Laurie was also the gymnastics analyst for Peacock and the Olympic Channel for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

When not in the gym, Laurie enjoys spending time with her family.  Acting is one of her biggest passions and she has done cameos, voiceovers, and even co-hosted American Ninja Warrior Junior. She travels the country speaking to the next generation about following your dreams and embracing who you are. She is also a fierce advocate for the importance of Mental Health and has partnered with multiple campaigns and initiatives to encourage awareness.