As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, Brazilian gymnastics star Rebeca Andrade is set to enhance her illustrious career with more medals and groundbreaking achievements.
Over the past two years, Rebeca Andrade has firmly established herself among the sport’s greats while also overcoming significant obstacles. At just 25, she continues to defy expectations following a series of injuries that could have ended her career. Instead, she has persevered and reached the pinnacle of both world and Olympic gymnastics.
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Andrade’s remarkable journey began at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she became the first South American woman to reach the all-around podium, finishing second to Team USA’s Sunisa Lee. Shortly thereafter, Rebeca Andrade secured gold on the vault, becoming the first Brazilian woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
In addition to her Olympic success, Andrade has accumulated nine World Championship medals, including the historic 2022 all-around title, the 2023 vault title, and her first-ever team medal last season. Reflecting on her 11 World and Olympic medals, Andrade shared with Olympics.com, “I didn’t foresee winning this many medals, but I was determined to achieve it. Once I set my mind on it, I knew it was possible.”
She continued, “It wasn’t something I thought about every day, but each time I compete, I’m focused on giving my best.” Andrade’s resilience is evident in her recovery from multiple ACL injuries in 2015, 2017, and 2019—setbacks that might have discouraged others from continuing. Instead, Andrade revamped her training and competition strategy, often opting out of certain events like vault and floor exercises, while maintaining a strong partnership with her coach, Francisco Porath. “I have complete freedom to communicate with Chico [Porath], and he understands when I’m in pain.
A Respectful Rivalry
The women’s gymnastics competition in Paris is expected to spotlight Andrade and American gymnast Simone Biles. The two athletes dominated the gold medals at last year’s World Championships. Despite their intense rivalry, they hold a deep mutual respect.
Andrade recalled a moment from the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, when Biles placed an imaginary crown on Andrade’s head as a gesture of recognition. “I saw it as a genuine and spontaneous gesture to acknowledge her position in the gymnastics world,” Andrade said, according to Brazilian Marie Claire
This camaraderie is not new; Andrade remembered Biles’ encouragement at the 2018 World Championships as she was recovering from her second ACL injury. “It was just the two of us then,” Andrade recalled. “She didn’t need to say much; her support was heartfelt. We continue to maintain this mutual admiration.”Andrade hopes that both she and Biles will excel in Paris
Looking Ahead
As Andrade prepares for her third Olympic Games in Paris, there is speculation about whether this might be her final competition. “I’m not sure,” Andrade said regarding her future in gymnastics. My goal is to bring joy to my country and make the most of this opportunity.”
Rebeca Andrade: My mother and kin “made my dream real
It wasn’t easy for Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade to win her second Olympic medal.The current vaulting world and Olympic champion tore her ACL three times in four years, from 2015 to 2019, but she also experienced other difficulties early in her career.
The hardest part was the monetary perspective,” Andrade expressed by CGTN America. I owe a great deal to my mother and my brother for making my dreams a reality. My mother would walk to work to ensure I could use her bus pass to get to the gym with my brother. Raised by a single mother who worked as a house cleaner while caring for seven of us, I don’t feel immense pressure personally .
Despite where you come from, your monetary circumstance, or your variety, you want to trust in yourself and not let anybody prevent you from accomplishing your objectives,”Rebeca Andrade said.
She absolutely has Not
Since winning generally around silver and vault gold at Tokyo 2020 out of 2021, Rebeca Andrade has gathered nine decorations at Big showdowns releases, remembering a notable success for the ladies’ overall in 2022. Last year, she wrapped sprinter up to American Simone Biles. However Rebeca Andrade heads to Paris with the genuine chance of adding a lot more decorations to her assortment, she’s oncoming it with smoothness.
There’s a strong desire among Brazilians, including us, to continue achieving great results.”However, we must remain focused because, for instance, I run the risk of losing sight of what really matters if we become overly preoccupied with expectations: myself and how I did it.”