Rebeca Rodrigues de Andrade, nicknamed Rebe, has stamped her name in history books, after an impressive performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing the gold medal in the floor exercise Gymnastics events.
Born in Guarulhos, Brazil, in 1999, Andrade was raised by her mother Rosa Andrade, who managed the upbringing of eight children. Andrade’s early gymnastics journey required her to walk nearly two hours each way to train, but her focus on achieving global accolades never wavered.
At 25, she has already faces and overcome significant challenges, including three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries within four years. Each recovery demanded at least six months, and her career appeared in jeopardy as she withdrew from major competitions between 2015 and 2019.
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Despite these setbacks, Andrade returned to peak fitness and recently achieved remarkable success at the Olympics, securing a gold medal, two silver medals, and a bronze. Her resilience serves as an inspiration to young Black gymnasts facing their own hurdles.
Here are five key facts about Rebeca Andrade:
1. Most Decorated Brazilian Olympian and Gymnast
Andrade is the most decorated Brazilian Olympian and gymnast of all time, with six Olympic medals and a total of 25 career medals for her nation. Although she will be 29 during the next Olympics, her achievements in Paris this year position her as a strong contender for future world championships.
2. Early Start and International Debut
Andrade began gymnastics at age four in Curitiba, Brazil. She made her international debut at 13 in 2012 at the Junior Pan American Championships, winning silver medals in the all-around, floor exercise, and vault events. She also earned a gold medal in the individual all-around at the Junior South American Championships later that year.
3. Three-Time Olympian
Despite numerous injuries, Andrade has consistently competed on the Olympic stage. Her first appearance was at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where she did not win any medals. However, from 2020 to 2024, she secured six Olympic medals across individual and team events, with four of those coming from the Paris Games.
4. A World Medal in Every Event
Andrade is the eleventh gymnast to win a world medal in each of the four women’s gymnastics events: Vault, Floor Exercise, Balance Beam, and Uneven Bars. Her achievements are rivaled by Simone Biles, who is recognized as the most decorated gymnast of all time.
5. Three-Time Brazilian All-Around Champion
Andrade has won the Brazilian All-Around Championship three times— in 2016, 2021, and 2022. Her perseverance in the sport has inspired many young athletes. After Andrade’s gold medal win in the floor exercise at the latest Olympics, U.S. gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, who won silver and bronze respectively, praised Andrade’s performance.
Biles remarked, “I don’t want to compete with Rebeca anymore. She’s way too close; it definitely brought out the best in me.”
Andrade is fluent in Portuguese and English, and her status as the most decorated Brazilian and Latin American gymnast of all time is likely to remain unchallenged for years. She continues to strive for further achievements in her illustrious career.
