Who is Rebeca Andrade? The Athlete Who Surpassed Simone Biles
Rebeca Andrade was born on May 8, 1999, in São Paulo, Brazil, and is one of the world's most outstanding gymnasts. She began training at the age of four at the Bonifácio Cardoso gym and, at ten, joined Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, where she started gaining recognition by winning the artistic gymnastics trophy. Since then, her career has been brilliant, despite constant knee injuries that led her to undergo surgery in 2015 and 2019.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Andrade became Brazil's most decorated Olympian by winning a total of six medals: two gold, three silver, and one bronze. Her performance culminated in a gold medal in the floor final, surpassing the historic American gymnast Simone Biles. With a score of 14.166, Andrade managed to prevail in a tight competition where Biles made unusual errors, stepping out of bounds twice and scoring 14.133 points.
The artistic gymnastics event in Paris not only highlighted the clash between Andrade and Biles but also the excellent performances of other gymnasts such as Italy’s Alice D'Amato and Manila Esposito, who won gold and bronze on the balance beam. Andrade, in addition to her floor victory, finished fourth on the balance beam, in a routine that deserved a higher score than she received.
The high difficulty and quality of Biles’ routine, with a difficulty score of 6.900 compared to Andrade’s 5.900, allowed her to secure the silver despite her errors. However, the security and brilliance of Andrade's execution were key to securing her first Olympic gold medal, establishing her as one of the best gymnasts of today.
Andrade’s success at Paris 2024 reaffirms her position in the elite of world gymnastics, and her ability to overcome adversity makes her an inspiring figure in the sport. With her outstanding performance, Rebeca Andrade has written a new chapter in the history of Brazilian and world gymnastics, leaving an indelible mark on the Olympic Games.
