Even though our #1 favorite activity is reading, we loved taking a break to watch the 2016 Olympics this month – specifically the women’s gymnastics competition. The reason? Caela Carter’s new novel Tumbling got us in the mood for all things beams, bars, and kick-butt girls. Following the athletic dreams of gymnasts Grace, Camille, Leigh, and more, Tumbling is like scoring a front row seat to the Olympic trials. Since she’s definitely an expert on the matter, we asked author Caela Carter to do some digging on the actual U.S. women’s gymnastics team. Read on for 9 facts about Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, and the rest of the team!

Team member Laurie Hernandez has a gymnastics best friend in training partner Jazmyn Foberg. Both 16, they’ve been at the same New Jersey gym for the past three years, and they’re committed to compete together for the University of Florida in the future. The pair hope to make the 2020 team together.

Can’t wait to watch my bff kill it tonight 💋👊🏼🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/dv4YIEVENY

— jazmyn foberg (@jazmynfoberg) June 26, 2016

Simone Biles, 19-year-old gymnastics superstar, has talked a lot about her crush on Zac Efron—and, after Ellen Degeneres gifted Simone a Zac Efron leo, he tweeted her. Then, at the trials, Simone actually got to meet him! Super cute and fun…but honestly she’s basically a superhero, so maybe HE should be the one with the crush. 

Thanks for the heads up @TheEllenShow! 😊 Good luck at the Olympic trials @Simone_Biles! #Rio2016 https://t.co/DMVwizWKPI

— Zac Efron (@ZacEfron) July 8, 2016

Speaking of Simone Biles, she also has a unique way of marking up the side of the balance beam in chalk before her routine. Instead of making lines or dots, she draws a dollar sign.

In gymnastics fashion news, Under Armor designed seven leotards for this year’s Olympic team. Here’s the first design to be released (along with one men’s design.)

Twenty-two isn’t old…unless maybe you’re a gymnast. The team has taken to calling two-time team captain Aly Raisman “Grandma Aly.” (Though they say it’s for her sound advice and wisdom more than her age.)

Madison Kocian, 19-year-old bars extraordinaire, is a self-proclaimed neat-nick. She roomed with Aly Raisman in the Olympic Village!

The team’s official photographer, John Cheng, caught the action in still shots. He could make an entire line of emojis off of the different gymnasts’ mid-vault faces!

According to Laurie Hernandez, Simone Biles isn’t just a superstar on the apparatuses. She’s also the loudest cheerer. Laurie says all she hears when she’s competing is Simone yelling “Confidence! Confidence!”

With two black gymnastics (Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas), one Latina gymnast (Laurie Hernandez) and a Jewish gymnast (Aly Raisman), the USA sent the most diverse gymnastics team to the Olympics ever. I loved cheering them on!

Wish the gymnastics would never end? Get your copy of Tumbling!