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Rebeca Rodrigues de Andrade (Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁeˈbɛkɐ ʁoˈdɾiɡiz dʒi ɐ̃ˈdɾadʒi]; born 8 May 1999)[1] is a Brazilian artistic gymnast. Having won a total of six Olympic and nine World medals, she is the most decorated Brazilian and Latin American gymnast of all time, as well as the most decorated Brazilian Olympian in any discipline.[3] In the all-around, she is the 2022 World champion, a two-time Olympic silver medalist (2020, 2024), the 2023 World silver medalist, and the 2021 Pan American champion. On vault, she is the 2020 Olympic gold medalist, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time World Champion (2021, 2023), and the 2023 Pan American Games champion. In the floor exercise, she is the 2024 Olympic gold medalist, 2023 World silver medallist, and 2022 World bronze medallist. She led the Brazilian team to its first ever team medals at the 2023 World Championships (silver) and the 2024 Olympics (bronze), as well as the gold medal at the 2021 Pan American Championships.

Key Information

Andrade is the first Brazilian female gymnast to medal at an Olympic Games and only the second Brazilian woman to win a gold medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Andrade is one of only 11 female gymnasts to have medalled on every event in the history of World Championships, and one of only three gymnasts to have done so in the 21st century, alongside Simone Biles and Aliya Mustafina.

At the junior level, she is the 2012 Junior Pan American champion in the all-around and on vault and floor exercise, and the 2014 Junior Pan American champion on the vault, uneven bars, and balance beam. After a successful junior career, Andrade's senior debut in 2015 was cut short by the first of three ACL tears. She returned to competition and represented Brazil at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she placed eleventh in the all-around final. She tore her ACL for the second time in 2017, but made her World Championships debut in 2018. After her third ACL tear in 2019, Andrade represented Brazil at the 2020 Summer Olympics and at the 2021 World Championships, where she won the vault gold medal at both events.

Early life and background

[edit]

Andrade was born on 8 May 1999 in Guarulhos. She is one of eight children of a single mother, Rosa.[4] Her mother cleaned houses and walked to work in order to pay for her gymnastics training.[5] She began gymnastics when she was four years old after her aunt took her to the gym where she worked.[2] When she was nine years old she moved to train in Curitiba, and a year later she moved to Rio de Janeiro to train at Flamengo.[6] She speaks both Portuguese and English, and she is Afro-Brazilian.[2][5][7]

Junior career

[edit]

2012

[edit]

Andrade made her international debut when she was thirteen years old at the Junior Pan American Championships. She helped Brazil win the team silver medal behind Canada and ahead of Mexico.[8] Individually, she won the gold medal in the all-around, on vault, and the floor exercise, and she won the bronze medal on the balance beam.[9][10][11][12] Then at the Junior South American Championships in Cochabamba, she placed first with the Brazilian team as well as in the individual all-around.[13][14] She also competed at the Brazil Trophy, a domestic competition for both juniors and seniors, where she edged out Olympians including Jade Barbosa and Daniele Hypólito to claim the all-around title.[15]

2013

[edit]

Andrade continued her success at the junior level in 2013. She began her 2013 season at the Nadia Comăneci Invitational in Oklahoma City, and she won the gold medal in the junior all-around.[16] In August, she competed at her second Junior South American Championships, and the Brazilian team won the gold medal. Individually, Andrade won the bronze medal in the all-around behind teammates Lorrane Oliveira and Flávia Saraiva. She also won the gold medal on vault and uneven bars and the silver medal on the balance beam behind Saraiva.[17] In November, she competed at the Gymnasiade, which were held in Brasília. The Brazilian team won the silver medal behind Russia, and Andrade won the bronze medal in the all-around behind Alla Sosnitskaya and Flávia Saraiva. In the event finals, she won the gold medal on vault and placed sixth on the floor exercise.[18][19]

2014

[edit]

In February, Andrade began the season by competing at the WOGA Classic in Plano, Texas. She won the gold in the all-around, on vault, and uneven bars, and she won the silver with the team, on balance beam, and on floor exercise.[20] She later competed at the Junior Pan American Championships in Aracaju where she helped team Brazil win the silver medal behind Canada.[21] Individually, she won the silver in the all-around and on floor exercise both behind Flávia Saraiva and the gold on vault, uneven bars, and balance beam.[22][23] She was initially scheduled to represent Brazil at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.[24] However, she withdrew due to a broken toe and was replaced by teammate Flávia Saraiva.[25] Andrade did not compete for the rest of the 2014 season.

Senior career

[edit]

2015

[edit]

Andrade became age-eligible for senior international competitions in 2015. She recovered from her toe injury and made her senior international debut at the Ljubljana World Cup, where she won the bronze medal on the uneven bars behind Isabela Onyshko and Jonna Adlerteg.[26] She then went to the São Paulo World Cup and won the silver medal on vault behind Deng Yalan; she placed seventh on the uneven bars.[27][28] She then went to the Flanders International Team Challenge in Ghent where a mixed team of Brazilian and Italian gymnasts won the bronze medal.[29] In the all-around, she won the silver medal behind Flavia Saraiva.[30] In June, Andrade tore her ACL which caused her to miss her most important competitions of the season – the Pan American Games and the World Championships.[31]

2016

[edit]

In 2016 Andrade returned to competition after her ACL injury. She returned at the City of Jesolo Trophy. She only competed on the vault, uneven bars, and balance beam. She helped the Brazilian team win the silver medal behind the United States.[32] She qualified for the uneven bars event final where she finished eighth.[33] She then competed at the Doha World Cup and won the silver medal on the uneven bars behind Jonna Adlerteg.[34]

She was selected to compete at the Olympic Test Event alongside Jade Barbosa, Daniele Hypólito, Lorrane Oliveira, Carolyne Pedro, and Flávia Saraiva in order to attempt to qualify Brazil a team quota for the Olympic Games.[35] Andrade competed on vault and uneven bars only, and she performed a double-twisting Yurchenko vault and a clean uneven bars routine.[36] The Brazilian team won the gold medal in the team event and qualified a full team to the 2016 Summer Olympics.[37][38] Individually, she qualified for the uneven bars final, where she won the bronze medal behind Germans Elisabeth Seitz and Sophie Scheder.[39]

She then competed at the São Paulo World Cup, where she qualified for the uneven bars and balance beam finals. In the uneven bars final, she tied with German Kim Bui for the silver medal.[40] The next day on the balance beam, she won the bronze medal behind teammate Daniele Hypólito and Simona Castro.[41] She then went to the Anadia World Cup where she won two silver medals on balance beam and floor exercise, both behind teammate Saraiva.[42][43] In late June Andrade was officially named to the Brazilian Olympic team alongside Barbosa, Hypólito, Oliveira, and Saraiva.[44]

After the Anadia World Cup, Andrade was named to represent Brazil at the 2016 Summer Olympics alongside Jade Barbosa, Daniele Hypólito, Lorrane Oliveira, and Flavia Saraiva.[45] Her final competition in preparation for the Olympics was a friendly meet in the Netherlands on 10 July where she tied with Dutch gymnast Eythora Thorsdottir for the gold medal in the all-around.[46]

Team Brazil at the Olympic Test Event
Uneven bars podium at the Olympic Test Event
Andrade in 2016 at the Olympic Games

At the 2016 Olympics Andrade performed well in the qualification round and helped Brazil qualify for the team finals in fifth place. She qualified individually to the all-around final in third place with a total score of 58.732 behind American gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman.[47][48] During the team finals, Andrade fell on the floor exercise, and the Brazilian team finished eighth.[49] In the individual all-around, she finished eleventh with a total score of 56.965.[50]

After the Olympic Games Andrade competed at the Brazilian Championships in November. She won the gold medal with the Flamengo club team in the all-around, uneven bars, and balance beam. She won the silver medal on floor exercise behind Thais Fidelis.[51]

2017

[edit]

Andrade won three World Cup medals in 2017 but also endured two different injuries. She began her season at the City of Jesolo Trophy, where the Brazilian team won the silver medal behind the United States. Andrade won the silver medal in the all-around behind American gymnast Riley McCusker.[52] In the event finals, she finished fifth on the uneven bars, sixth on the balance beam, and fourth on the floor exercise.[53] She then competed at the Koper Challenge Cup and won the gold medal on vault.[54] Then at the Osijek Challenge Cup, she only competed on the uneven bars but did not qualify for the event final.[55]

In May, Andrade injured her ankle during training and had to wear a protective boot for two months.[2] She returned to competition in August at the Brazilian Championships, where she only competed on the uneven bars and won the gold medal.[56] She then competed at the Varna Challenge Cup and won the gold medal on both the vault and the uneven bars.[57]

Andrade was initially named to the World Championships team along with first-year senior Thais Fidelis; however, she tore her ACL for a second time during the warmups for podium training and withdrew.[58][59]

2018–19

[edit]
Andrade on the balance beam at the 2018 World Championships.

Andrade competed at her first World Championships in 2018 after returning from her second ACL tear but only was able to compete for a little less than a year before tearing her ACL for the third time. She returned to competition in September 2018 at the Pan American Championships. She only competed on two events, the vault and uneven bars. She helped the Brazilian team win the silver medal behind the United States.[60] She was then named to the Brazilian team for the 2018 World Championships alongside Jade Barbosa, Thais Fidelis, Lorrane Oliveira, and Flavia Saraiva. Andrade made her World Championships debut and competed on the vault, uneven bars, and balance beam, and Brazil qualified for the team final in fifth place.[61] In the team final, the Brazilian team finished seventh after Andrade, Barbosa, and Saraiva all fell on the uneven bars.[62] After the World Championships, Andrade competed at the 2018 Cottbus World Cup where she won the gold medal on vault and balance beam and the silver medal on uneven bars behind Nina Derwael.[63]

Andrade only competed once in 2019; at the DTB Team Challenge in Stuttgart, she helped the Brazilian team win team gold, and she won the all-around gold medal.[64] At the Brazilian Championships, Andrade tore her ACL for the third time in her career.[65] This ended her 2019 season and caused her to miss the 2019 World Championships.[31] At the World Championships, the Brazilian team without Andrade finished fourteenth and did not qualify a team for the 2020 Olympic Games.[66][67]

2020

[edit]

Andrade's comeback was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. She returned to competition at the Baku World Cup, where she finished third on uneven bars behind Fan Yilin and Anastasia Ilyankova and second on balance beam behind Urara Ashikawa during qualifications and therefore qualified to the event finals.[68] However, the event finals were canceled due to the pandemic in Azerbaijan.[69] In July, Andrade and numerous other Brazilian Olympic hopefuls traveled to Portugal as they were unable to resume training due to the pandemic in Brazil remaining unstable and gyms remaining closed.[70] In December 2020, she tested positive for COVID-19 but was asymptomatic.[71]

2021

[edit]

Andrade had a breakthrough year in 2021 and won her first Olympic and World medals.[72] She returned to competition at the Pan American Championships which offered her a chance to qualify for the Olympic Games as an individual. The Brazilian team of Andrade, Christal Bezerra, Ana Luiza Lima, Lorrane Oliveira, and Júlia Soares won the gold medal. Individually, Andrade won the gold medal in the all-around with a total score of 56.700.[73] This result earned her and Luciana Alvarado the continental quota spots for the 2020 Olympic Games.[67]

In the qualification round, Andrade qualified in third place to the vault final, fourth to floor exercise final, and second to the all-around final.[74] Following Simone Biles’ withdrawal, Andrade entered the all-around final as the top qualifier. After leading the competition in the first two rotations of the all-around final, Andrade won silver in the all-around after stepping out of bounds on two of her floor exercise tumbling passes. This was the first-ever Olympic medal for a female Brazilian gymnast.[75][76]

Setting another record for her country, she won the gold medal in the vault final with an average score of 15.083.[77] This made her the first Olympic champion in Brazilian women's artistic gymnastics history.[78]

In the floor final, Andrade placed fifth with a score of 14.033 after stepping out of bounds on two of her tumbling passes. Reflecting on her success at the Games, Andrade told reporters, "[T]his is not only for me but for the whole of Brazil. I want to inspire younger kids with my achievements... It's not just the medals. I made everybody proud of me."[7] She was chosen to be the flag bearer for Brazil at the closing ceremony.[79]

Andrade continued training after the Olympic Games. She helped her club win the team gold medal at the Brazilian Championships. She also won the gold medal in the all-around.[80] At the World Championships in Kitakyushu, she competed on the vault, uneven bars, and balance beam. She chose not to compete on the floor exercise in order to preserve her health.[81] She qualified for all three event finals. She finished first on both the vault with an average score of 14.800 and on the uneven bars with a score of 15.100, and she finished eighth on the balance beam.[82][83][84] She became the first Brazilian gymnast to ever qualify for a World uneven bars event final.[85]

In the vault final, she won the gold medal with an average score of 14.966, nearly a full point ahead of silver medalist Asia D'Amato.[86] This was Brazil's second women's gold medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the first being Daiane dos Santos's gold medal on the floor exercise in 2003.[87] Then in the uneven bars final, she scored a 14.633 and won the silver medal behind Chinese gymnast Wei Xiaoyuan becoming the first Brazilian gymnast to win a World medal on the uneven bars.[88][87] On the next day, she finished sixth in the balance beam event final, tying the best-ever finish of a Brazilian woman in this event with Flávia Saraiva in 2019.[89][85]

2022

[edit]

Andrade began her 2022 season in May at the Trophy Brazil, where she won the gold medal on the uneven bars[90] and the silver on the balance beam.[91]

In July, Andrade was named to the Brazilian team for the Pan American Championships alongside Flávia Saraiva, Christal Bezerra, Lorrane Oliveira, Carolyne Pedro and Júlia Soares.[92] On the first day of competition, which determined the all-around and apparatus results, Andrade won the gold medal on the uneven bars as well as the silver medal on the balance beam behind Saraiva. Additionally, she helped Brazil qualify to the team final in first place.[93] She opted not to compete on floor exercise. In the team final, Andrade contributed scores on vault, uneven bars and balance beam towards Brazil's first-place finish ahead of the United States and Canada — their first victory over the United States at the competition since 1997.[94] Andrade stated that "This win is very big for the future of gymnastics [in Brazil], for the girls that are coming up and the ones who came before us."[94]

In August, Andrade competed at the Brazilian Championships, where she won the all-around ahead of Saraiva and Soares and also received the highest scores on vault, uneven bars and balance beam, as well as the second highest on floor exercise,[95] despite performing watered-down routines.[96] In September, Andrade competed at the Paris World Challenge Cup; she only competed on the uneven bars. She won silver behind American Shilese Jones.[97]

In October, Andrade was named to the team to compete at the World Championships in Liverpool alongside Saraiva, Soares, Oliveira, Pedro and Bezerra.[98] In the qualification round, Andrade qualified in first place to the all-around final, second to the floor final, third to the uneven bars final, seventh to the beam final, and helped Brazil qualify to the team final in third place.[99] On vault, she scored 15.066 for her first vault, a Cheng, however, her hands slipped on the table during her second vault attempt, performing just a Yurchenko back tuck instead of her intended double twist. Her second vault scored 11.466, putting her outside the final.[100] In the team final, Brazil finished fourth behind the United States, Great Britain and Canada.[101] In the all-around final, Andrade won the gold medal ahead of Shilese Jones and Jessica Gadirova with a score of 56.899,[102][103] becoming the first South American gymnast to win a World all-around title.[104] Andrade then won the bronze medal in the floor exercise final alongside Jade Carey, finishing behind Jessica Gadirova and Jordan Chiles, who finished in first and second place respectively.

2023

[edit]

Andrade competed at the Brazilian national championships in August, but did not compete on floor exercise. She placed first on both uneven bars and balance beam.[105] She next competed at the Paris World Challenge Cup where she placed second on uneven bars behind Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos.[106]

In late September Andrade competed at the World Championships in Antwerp alongside Flávia Saraiva, Jade Barbosa, Júlia Soares, and Lorrane Oliveira. Together they won a historic silver medal behind the United States, earning Brazil their first team medal at a World Championships.[107] During the all-around final Andrade finished second behind Simone Biles.[108] On the first day of event finals Andrade won gold on vault ahead of Biles after the latter fell on her eponymous skill.[109] On the final day of competition Andrade won bronze on balance beam and silver on floor exercise. In winning a medal on balance beam, Andrade became the eleventh gymnast to win a World Championships medal on every single apparatus.[110]

Andrade ended the year competing at the Pan American Games in Santiago. During qualification (which also served as the team final) she competed on vault, uneven bars, and balance beam towards Brazil's second place finish.[111] She qualified to all three event finals. During the vault final Andrade won after performing what many described as the "best Cheng in history".[112][113] During the uneven bars final she won silver behind Zoe Miller and won gold on balance beam ahead of teammate Saraiva.[114]

2024

[edit]
Andrade winning the silver medal in the all-around at the 2024 Olympics

Andrade began her Olympic year in March, competing at the Antalya World Challenge Cup, where she only competed on the uneven bars. She won silver behind Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos.[115]

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Andrade and the Brazilian team won the bronze medal in the team all-around final, the first ever for the country.[116] She also won the silver medal in the individual all-around final. On the first day of apparatus finals, Andrade won the silver medal on vault.[117] Andrade then competed during the third day of apparatus finals on beam and floor, placing fourth on beam and winning gold on floor.[118][119] Her performance in the latter final bested Diego Hypólito's second-place finish at the 2016 Olympics to make her the first Brazilian Olympic floor champion of either gender. During the floor final medal ceremony, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to Andrade as she walked onto the podium, a gesture that went viral.[120] Andrade's collective six medals from the 2020 and 2024 Olympics make her the most decorated Brazilian Olympian in any discipline, a record previously held by sailors Robert Scheidt and Torben Grael.[121]

Leotard used by Rebeca Andrade at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on display at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne

2025

[edit]

In 2025 Andrade did not compete in any of the tournaments to rest and take a gap year from gymnastics.[122]

2026

[edit]

On February 6 2026, Rebeca, participated in the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics carrying the Olympic flag[123][124].

Personal life

[edit]

Andrade achieved celebrity status in Brazil after her success at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.[72] Three months after the Games in October 2021, she appeared on the cover of Vogue Brasil.[125] She was also awarded the Brazil Olympic Prize which recognized her as the best Brazilian female athlete of the year from 2021 to 2024.[126][127]

Andrade was in a relationship with bodybuilder Luiz Cleiton from June 2022 to 2024.[128][129][130]

She has worked with psychologist Aline Wolff since she was 13 years old and wants to study psychology herself.[130]

Andrade underwent three ACL reconstruction surgeries, all on her right knee.[131] Her main idol in gymnastics is the Brazilian world champion Daiane dos Santos.[132]

Selected skills

[edit]
Apparatus Name Description
Vault Baitova Yurchenko Double Full (DTY)
Amanar Yurchenko entry, laid out salto backwards with 2½ twists
Cheng Yurchenko half-on entry, laid out salto forwards with 1½ twists
Uneven Bars Maloney Toe-on Shaposhnikova transition from low bar-to-high bar
Van Leeuwen Toe-on Shaposhnikova transition with ½ twist to high bar
Jaeger Forward salto piked
Tkatchev piked Reverse hecht piked same-bar release into a Pak
Chusovitina Full-twisting double tuck dismount
Balance Beam Switch leap Switch split mount
Double Pike Dismount: Double piked salto backwards
Floor Exercise Memmel 2/1 turn (720°) with free leg held upward in 180° split position
Chusovitina Double layout 1/1
Double Layout Double Layout salto backwards

Competitive history

[edit]
Andrade performing her uneven bars dismount at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Competitive history of Rebeca Andrade at the junior level[133]
Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
2012
Junior Pan American Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Junior South American Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Trophy Brazil 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2013 Nadia Comaneci Invitational 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Junior South American Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Gymnasiade 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6
2014 WOGA Classic 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Junior Pan American Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Competitive history of Rebeca Andrade at the senior level[133]
Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
2015 Ljubljana World Challenge Cup 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
São Paulo World Challenge Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7
Flanders Team Challenge 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
2016 City of Jesolo Trophy 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 8
Doha World Challenge Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Olympic Test Event 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
São Paulo World Challenge Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Anadia World Challenge Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Dutch Olympic Qualifier 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Olympic Games 8 11
Brazilian Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
2017 City of Jesolo Trophy 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 6 4
Koper World Challenge Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Brazilian Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Varna World Challenge Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2018
Pan American Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
World Championships 7 R2
Cottbus World Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2019 DTB Team Challenge 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2020 Baku World Cup 3 2
2021
Pan American Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Doha World Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Olympic Games 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5
Brazilian Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
World Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6
2022 Trophy Brazil 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Pan American Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Brazilian Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Paris World Challenge Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
World Championships 4 1st place, gold medalist(s) R3 8 8 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2023 Brazilian Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Paris World Challenge Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
World Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Pan American Games 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2024 Antalya World Challenge Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
City of Jesolo Trophy 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Brazil Trophy 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Olympic Games 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) R2 4 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Brazilian Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)

Floor music

[edit]
Year Music Title
2013 "Sway"
2014–2016 "Crazy in Love" and "Single Ladies"
2019–2022 "Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565" and "Baile de Favela"
2023–2024 "End of Time", "Movimento da Sanfoninha" and "Baile de Favela"

Awards

[edit]

In December 2024, Rebeca Andrade was included on the BBC's 100 Women list.[134]

In April 2025, Andrade won the Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year, for her resilience in overcoming multiple injuries, including three ACL tears, to become Brazil's most decorated Olympian in history at Paris 2024.[135]

Tributes

[edit]

In late 2025 Rebeca Andrade was honored with a mural at CEU Butantã, in the western part of São Paulo. The artwork, titled “Rebeca Andrade: Body that Flies, Root that Remains,” is part of the MAR 2025 program of the São Paulo City Hall, which aims to promote urban art in public spaces.[136][137]

The painting, created by the artist Bruna Moreira, known as Bromou, occupies the facade of the educational unit and measures 22 meters wide by 17 meters high.[136][137]

Filmography

[edit]

On September 12,2025 the sportswear brand Adidas released a documentary that centers on Andrade’s long-standing working relationship with her coach, Francisco Porath, commonly known as Xico. According to a press release issued by Adidas, the production offers a personal perspective on the people who support the athlete and serve as a consistent and positive influence throughout her career. Through interviews and observational footage, the film explores the dynamics of coaching, trust, and collaboration within high-performance sport.[138]

The documentary was released on YouTube and highlights their professional collaboration within the context of Andrade’s achievements at the international level. The film is part of Illuminated, a documentary series produced by Adidas that profiles elite athletes and the individuals who play significant roles in their professional journeys.[138]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Rebeca Andrade

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Rebeca Rodrigues de Andrade (born May 8, 1999) is a Brazilian artistic gymnast renowned for her pioneering achievements, including becoming the most decorated Olympian in Brazilian history with six medals across two Games. Born in Guarulhos, São Paulo, Andrade began training in gymnastics at age four through a social program, inspired by her aunt, and quickly rose through the ranks despite facing significant setbacks, including three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in 2015, 2017, and 2019 that required reconstructive surgeries and lengthy rehabilitations. Her resilience propelled her to international prominence, starting with her senior debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she contributed to Brazil's team qualification. Andrade's breakthrough came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she secured a in the all-around—making her the first Brazilian to medal in the event—and a gold in vault, marking Brazil's first Olympic gold in women's . At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she elevated her legacy by winning four medals: gold on floor exercise, in the all-around, on vault, and bronze in the team event, bringing her total to two golds, three , and one bronze. On the world stage, Andrade has amassed nine medals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, including the all-around gold in 2023 (her second after 2022), vault gold in 2021, and silver on in 2021, establishing her as the most successful Latin American with a total of three golds, four silvers, and two bronzes. Her floor routine, featuring the signature Andrade (a triple twisting double layout), has been a highlight, earning her gold at the 2024 Olympics and silver at the 2023 Worlds. As of 2025, , standing at 1.51 meters tall, is on an extended break from competition following , focusing on recovery and personal projects while planning a selective return in 2026, excluding the all-around event and retiring the floor exercise due to its physical toll. Her accomplishments have not only elevated Brazilian but also inspired global audiences, earning her recognition such as inclusion in BBC's 100 Women of 2024 and the Laureus World Sports Award in 2025.

Early life

Family and upbringing

Rebeca Andrade was born on May 8, 1999, in , , . She grew up as one of eight children in a single-parent household led by her mother, Rosa Santos, who raised the family alone after separating from Rebeca's father early in her life. Andrade's upbringing took place in a low-income on the outskirts of , characterized by overcrowding, frequent moves due to unstable housing, and severe economic challenges. Her mother worked long hours as a domestic employee, often as a , to provide for the family, while the children shared limited resources like bunk beds and basic necessities. Despite these hardships, the family maintained close bonds, with Andrade's older siblings—such as her brother Emerson—actively supporting one another by walking long distances together and pooling efforts to overcome daily obstacles like transportation costs. Rosa instilled values of discipline and perseverance in her children amid the and limited opportunities of life, fostering a resilient environment that emphasized mutual reliance and determination. This socio-economic backdrop shaped Andrade's early character, highlighting the family's collective strength in navigating adversity. Early exposure to community sports programs provided a positive outlet from these circumstances, eventually drawing her toward .

Introduction to gymnastics

Rebeca Andrade was introduced to at the age of four through a municipal social project in , São Paulo, designed to engage children from underserved communities in sports activities as a means to promote physical and steer them away from street-related risks. The initiative, known as Iniciação Esportiva, provided free access to training at public facilities like the Ginásio Bonifácio Cardoso, where Andrade first stepped into the sport alongside other local children. Her entry was facilitated by her aunt, who worked in maintenance at the gymnasium and recognized Andrade's natural agility from her playful on bunk beds at home. From ages five to nine, Andrade trained consistently at the Guarulhos gymnasium under the project's guidance, developing foundational skills such as basic vaults, balances, and flips while participating in local recreational meets to build confidence and technique. Her early talent was quickly evident; on her first day, coaches noted her exceptional flexibility and strength, earning her the affectionate nickname "Daianinha de Guarulhos" after Brazil's prominent gymnast . Under coach Mônica Barroso dos Anjos, who mentored her for about a year and a half, Andrade advanced to the project's high-achieving group, honing her coordination and discipline through daily sessions that often required long walks to the facility when transportation was unavailable. At around age ten, Andrade transitioned to more structured elite training by relocating to the Center for Excellence in in , Paraná, under the auspices of the Brazilian Confederation, marking her entry into a professional development pathway. This move, supported by her family's encouragement despite the challenges of separation, allowed her to access advanced coaching and facilities aimed at nurturing national-level potential.

Junior career

2012

In 2012, at the age of 12, Rebeca Andrade qualified for the Brazilian junior national team through exceptional domestic performances that highlighted her rapid progress in the sport. Building on the foundations of her early training, she excelled at the Brazilian Junior Championships, winning the all-around title along with gold medals on multiple apparatus events. Her standout year continued at the Troféu Brasil, where she claimed the all-around gold, notably defeating senior competitors including Daniele Hypolito and . Andrade's junior international debut came at the Junior Pan American Championships in , , where she helped secure Brazil's in the team event. Individually, she earned gold medals in the all-around, vault, and exercise, demonstrating strong execution and difficulty on vault and while contributing key scores across apparatuses. At the South American Junior Championships in , , Andrade anchored to the team . She won the all-around with a total score of 54.800 (vault: 14.500, : 12.633, : 13.767, : 13.900), along with individual golds on vault and , and silvers on and , underscoring her emerging leadership in regional competitions.

2013

In 2013, Rebeca Andrade built on the momentum from her 2012 international debuts, establishing herself as a standout junior gymnast through consistent high placements in national and continental competitions. At the Brazilian Junior National Championships, she dominated by winning the all-around along with individual golds on vault, , and , showcasing her versatility and power on those apparatuses. Andrade's international profile rose further at the South American Junior Championships in , , where she helped secure the team gold medal for with a total score of 160.950. Individually, she earned bronze in the all-around with 53.250 points (vault 15.200, uneven bars 11.950, balance beam 13.800, floor exercise 12.300), gold on vault in the event final (14.488 average), gold on (13.200), and silver on (13.075). These results highlighted her strength in power events while contributing to 's continental dominance. Later that year, Andrade competed at the Gymnasiade in , , a major international junior event, where she aided the Brazilian team in winning silver behind . She claimed silver in the all-around, gold on vault, bronze on , and placed sixth on floor exercise, further solidifying her reputation on the global junior stage with strong performances in acrobatic elements. These achievements marked her growing prominence, leading to intensified training regimens focused on skill refinement and as she prepared for advanced continental competitions.

2014

In 2014, Andrade reached the peak of her junior career, showcasing her growing dominance in international competitions and solidifying her status as 's top junior gymnast. At the Junior Pan American Championships in , , she claimed the in the all-around final with a score of 55.450, finishing just behind her teammate Flavia Saraiva, while contributing to 's in the . She also earned an individual gold medal on , highlighting her technical precision on that apparatus. Additionally, Andrade secured a on floor exercise, rounding out a strong showing at the continental event. Earlier in the year, Andrade opened her season with a victory at the WOGA Classic in , where she won the junior all-around title with a score of 57.600, leading the field with strong performances on vault (15.400) and (14.150). This success carried into domestic competition, where she delivered a dominant performance at the Brazilian Junior Championships, capturing the all-around title and multiple apparatus medals, further establishing her as the leading figure in Brazilian junior . Andrade's year concluded with her selection for the in , , marking her final major junior international appearance; although she contributed to Brazil's team qualification efforts, she ultimately withdrew due to a toe injury and did not compete individually. These achievements positioned her for a seamless transition to senior eligibility the following year.

Senior career

2015

Andrade made her senior international debut at the 2015 South American Championships in , , where the Brazilian team won gold, and she claimed silver in the all-around along with gold on vault and silver on . At her first senior World Championships in , , she competed in the qualifications, helping secure Brazil's team spot for the 2016 Olympics and placing 24th in the all-around with a score of 52.865. Shortly after the event, during training, Andrade suffered a tear to the in her right knee, requiring surgery and representing her first major injury, which kept her out for nine months. As recovery began, her involvement in domestic competitions remained limited that year.

2016

Following her (ACL) surgery in September 2015, Rebeca Andrade focused on rehabilitation and gradually resumed training in early 2016 under the guidance of her longtime coach, Francisco Porath Neto, who emphasized a cautious approach to rebuilding her strength and technique after the injury. This recovery period marked a pivotal transition, allowing her to adapt her routines while managing the physical limitations from the knee injury. Andrade returned to international competition at the City of Trophy in March 2016, where she competed selectively on vault, , and floor exercise to test her progress. Her contributions helped the Brazilian team secure the silver medal in the team all-around with a score of 57.550, trailing only . Individually, she earned the on vault with a score of 14.350, showcasing a solid Yurchenko double twist that highlighted her resilience post-surgery. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Andrade made her Olympic debut as part of the Brazilian women's artistic gymnastics team, competing in her home country. She performed on all four events during the qualification round, posting scores that included 15.566 on vault and 14.933 on uneven bars, helping Brazil advance to the team final in fifth place overall with a qualification total of 174.451. In the team final, the Brazilian squad finished fifth with 172.246, with Andrade contributing key routines on vault (14.800) and floor exercise (14.033). Qualifying third for the individual all-around final with 58.732 points, she competed in the event final but placed 11th with 56.965, impacted by minor errors on balance beam and floor amid the high-pressure environment. In November 2016, Andrade competed at the Brazilian National Championships in Rio de Janeiro, where she delivered consistent performances across multiple events, winning the vault title with 14.525 and placing highly in the all-around to solidify her selection for the World Championships later that year. These results underscored her growing versatility and confirmed her role as a key asset for Brazil's senior team heading into the post-Olympic cycle.

2017

Andrade began 2017 with a strong performance at the City of Trophy in , , on April 1–2, where she claimed the silver medal in the all-around competition with a score of 56.000, finishing behind American Riley McCusker's 56.600. Her routine included a standout 15.000 on vault during the all-around, showcasing her power and consistency on that apparatus. This result highlighted her growing prowess as a senior competitor, building on her Olympic experience from the previous year to secure qualification pathways for major events. Throughout the summer, Andrade excelled at World Challenge Cup series events, demonstrating steady progression and versatility. At the Koper World Challenge Cup in on May 12–14, she won on vault with an average score of 14.600 across two routines. Later, at the Varna World Challenge Cup in on September 1–3, she captured on vault again (14.800 average) and silver on (14.050), underscoring her strength in power elements while expanding her competitive repertoire. These victories marked her as a rising international force and contributed to Brazil's points in global rankings. Domestically, Andrade maintained consistency at the Brazilian Championships in São Paulo from August 3–6, where she competed in the all-around and apparatus events, helping solidify her position as Brazil's leading senior gymnast despite a challenging field and preparation for international meets. She also performed at the Brazil Trophy in May, posting competitive scores on vault in both qualification (14.667) and the event final (14.600). Andrade's year ended abruptly at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in , , from October 2–8, where she suffered a second ACL tear during podium training, forcing her withdrawal from the competition. Without her participation, the placed seventh in the team final. This setback interrupted what had been a promising injury-free progression earlier in the season, but her earlier medals affirmed her status as 's top talent heading into recovery.

2018–19

In 2018, Andrade returned to international competition following her second ACL tear in 2017, participating in a limited capacity at the Pan American Championships in , , where she competed on vault and , contributing to 's team silver medal behind the . She placed sixth on with a score of 13.700 but did not advance to the all-around final due to her restricted routine. Later that year, Andrade made her senior World Championships debut in , , competing on , , and vault, helping secure seventh place in the team final with a total score of 159.830. Her performances included a 14.333 on (tenth in qualification) and a 12.633 on , though she finished 138th in the all-around qualification with 41.532 points. Closing the season strongly, she competed at the Cottbus World Cup in , earning gold medals on vault (14.728) and (13.766), as well as silver on (14.500). The 2018–19 period proved particularly challenging due to ongoing recovery from prior knee injuries, including the 2015 tear that first sidelined her internationally, which influenced a cautious rehabilitation approach focused on gradual strength building. In June 2019, during the Brazilian Championships—serving as trials for the —Andrade won the vault gold with a score of 14.800 before suffering her third ACL tear in her right knee while warming up for , forcing her withdrawal from the event and the remainder of the season. This injury, her second major knee issue in as many years, led to for ACL reconstruction and anterolateral repair later that summer, causing her to miss the in and the World Championships in . The successive knee injuries exacted a heavy physical toll, restricting Andrade to minimal training and competition, while mentally, they pushed her to the brink of on multiple occasions, as the repeated setbacks eroded her and . She credited psychological support for aiding her emotional recovery, helping her rebuild mentally alongside physical rehabilitation during a nine-month layoff that extended into early 2020. Despite the adversity, Andrade's determination to return for Olympic qualification underscored her resilience amid this injury-dominated span.

2020

The significantly disrupted Rebeca Andrade's training and competitive schedule in 2020, following her recovery from a third (ACL) tear sustained in June 2019. Andrade underwent shortly after the injury and focused on rehabilitation, making a successful return to competition at the Troféu Brasil de Ginástica Artística in on March 13–15, where she claimed the all-around title along with gold medals on vault and exercise, demonstrating strong execution despite limited preparation time. This event marked one of the few limited domestic opportunities available before widespread restrictions took effect. As the escalated in , gyms closed nationwide in mid-March, halting Andrade's access to specialized facilities and shifting her focus to home-based conditioning exercises to preserve strength and mobility while continuing recovery from her prior surgeries. The cumulative impact of three ACL tears since 2015 limited her ability to engage in high-intensity -specific drills during this period, emphasizing general fitness maintenance amid uncertainty. In July, Andrade joined over 100 Brazilian Olympic hopefuls in traveling to Sangalhos, , to resume full training at the local club, as the unstable situation in prevented safe resumption at home. This relocation allowed for preparatory work toward the postponed Tokyo Olympics, though international events remained canceled. Despite the inactivity, Andrade's prior results positioned Brazil to pursue continental quota spots for the rescheduled , with her selection relying on demonstrated potential from earlier cycles. In December, she tested positive for while asymptomatic, leading to a temporary withdrawal from a planned national training camp and further extending her recovery timeline into 2021.

2021

Following her knee surgery in May 2020, Rebeca Andrade made a successful return to international competition in March 2021 at the World Cup, where she qualified third on with a score of 14.233 and second on with 13.800, though she withdrew from the event finals to prioritize Olympic training. Andrade's momentum built at the World Challenge Cup in late May, where she claimed on vault, marking Brazil's first victory in the event at that competition. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (delayed to 2021), Brazil placed sixth in the team all-around final with 164.120. In the individual all-around final, she earned silver with 57.433, becoming the first Brazilian to medal in the event and finishing just behind medalist of the . She also won on vault in the apparatus final with an average score of 15.083, edging out MyKayla Skinner of the for Brazil's first Olympic in women's . On floor exercise, Andrade placed fifth with 14.033 after deductions for out-of-bounds landings on two passes. After the Olympics, Andrade dominated the Brazilian National Championships in September, winning the all-around title with 56.450 ahead of teammate Lorrane Oliveira. In recognition of her Olympic achievements, Andrade was selected as Brazil's flag bearer alongside swimmer Bruno Fratus at the Tokyo closing ceremony on August 8.

2022

Following her silver medal in the all-around at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Rebeca Andrade entered 2022 with heightened expectations, leveraging the momentum from her Olympic success to pursue greater consistency across events. She began the year at the Brazil Trophy in May, where she secured gold on and silver on , demonstrating improved execution on those apparatuses. These performances set the stage for her dominant showing at the 2022 Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rio de Janeiro in July, where she led to the team gold medal with standout scores, including 15.166 on vault during qualifications. Andrade also claimed the all-around gold with a total of 56.199, marking her as the continental champion and highlighting her versatility as 's top gymnast. Additionally, she won gold medals on vault (14.600) and (14.967), along with silver on (14.133), contributing to 's sweep of multiple event titles. In , Andrade continued her national dominance at the Brazilian Championships, winning the all-around title with 58.734 points, as well as golds on vault (14.867), (14.600), and (14.267), while taking silver on floor exercise. She then competed at the World Challenge Cup in , , in September, earning gold on vault with a score of 14.516, further solidifying her prowess on the event ahead of the global stage. These victories showcased her upgraded routines, particularly an increased start value on from 5.7 to 6.1 and refined connections on , which elevated her competitive difficulty and positioned her among the world's elite all-arounders. At the 2022 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in , , in November, Andrade achieved a historic breakthrough by winning the all-around with 56.899 points, becoming the first South American woman to claim the title and outscoring silver medalist Ou Yushan of by 1.300 points. Despite a fourth-place finish for the Brazilian team (159.661 total), she placed eighth on (12.800) and tied for eighth on (12.733). Her vault performance in qualifications and the all-around (15.166) was the highest of the competition, though she did not advance to the vault final due to qualification protocols. She did not advance to the floor final. These results, built on her post-Olympic upgrades, confirmed Andrade's status as a leading global all-around competitor, with five medals across the year underscoring her peak form.

2023

At the Brazilian Championships in August 2023, Andrade dominated on vault with an average of 14.550 and with 14.317, contributing to her all-around victory totaling 87.801. Building on routine upgrades from , such as enhanced difficulty on vault and , Andrade maintained her technical edge throughout the year. In October 2023, Rebeca Andrade competed at the in Santiago, , where she secured gold medals on vault with an average score of 14.983 and on with 14.166, along with a on scoring 14.333 and a team silver for totaling 164.165. Andrade did not participate in the individual all-around final at the Games, focusing instead on event finals after contributing strongly to the team qualification with scores including 15.100 on vault. Later that month, at the in , , Andrade led to a historic in the women's team competition with a total score of 166.950, marking the country's first team medal at the Worlds. In the all-around final, she earned with 56.766 points, finishing just behind . Andrade claimed gold on vault averaging 14.750, bronze on with 14.300, and silver on floor exercise scoring 14.500. These results at the World Championships qualified the Brazilian women's team for the 2024 Paris Olympics and secured individual apparatus quotas for Andrade. Following the Worlds, Andrade managed a minor ankle issue conservatively without surgery.

2024

In early 2024, Andrade began her Olympic season with a silver medal on at the FIG World Challenge Cup in , , scoring 14.067 in the final after posting a qualification score of 14.700. At the City of Trophy in April, she contributed to Brazil's team silver medal with a total score of 164.465 for the squad, while individually securing gold on (14.700) and silver on (13.900); she competed vault in qualification (14.633) but did not advance to the final. In June, at the Troféu Brasil de Ginástica Artística in Rio de Janeiro—her final competition before the Olympics—Andrade won gold on (14.633) and (13.633), showcasing upgraded elements on beam despite a minor fall. Andrade's performances at the 2024 Paris Olympics marked a historic pinnacle, as she became Brazil's most decorated Olympian with six career medals. The Brazilian team, led by Andrade, earned bronze in the team all-around final with a score of 166.353, the country's first Olympic team medal in women's . In the individual all-around final, she claimed silver with 57.866 points, finishing second to (59.132), 1.266 points behind, after strong routines on vault (14.833) and (14.433), though deductions on bars and beam kept her from gold. She followed with silver on vault (14.833) in the apparatus final, executing her signature Cheng vault. Her campaign concluded with gold on exercise (14.166), defeating Biles (14.133) in a routine blending power and artistry to Brazilian rhythms, bringing her Olympic total to two golds, three silvers, and one bronze. Due to her history of injuries, Andrade opted for a cautious apparatus selection, focusing on her strongest events while managing recovery. Following the Olympics, Andrade competed at the Brazilian Championships in September, winning gold on (14.500). In December, she was named Brazil's Best Female Athlete of at the Prêmio Brasil Olímpico, earning the Troféu Rei Pelé for the fourth consecutive year in recognition of her four Paris medals and overall impact. She was also included in the BBC's 100 Women list for , celebrated for her resilience, achievements, and role in advancing diversity in .

2025

Following her triumphs at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Rebeca Andrade entered 2025 with initial plans to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in , , scheduled for October. In an April , she expressed her intention to train specifically for the event, describing the year as more relaxed compared to previous cycles and hinting at potential upgrades to her routines on apparatus like vault and to build on her Olympic performances. These plans positioned the championships as a key goal in her post-Olympic schedule. However, on August 13, 2025, Andrade announced an extended break from competition through 2026, citing the need for physical and mental recovery after the demanding Olympic year. This decision meant she would miss the World Championships and other major events, prioritizing rest over participation. As part of the announcement, she revealed she would no longer compete on floor exercise upon any future return. As of November 2025, Andrade confirmed plans for a selective return to major competition in 2026, including training resumption, potentially excluding floor exercise and the all-around, and hinted at short-term non-competitive involvement at the 2025 Worlds. Amid her time away from the gym, Andrade received significant recognition for her career resilience. On April 21, 2025, she was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year, honoring her remarkable achievements at the 2024 Olympics despite a history of injuries. This marked the first such Laureus honor for a Brazilian female athlete, presented at the ceremony in , . The award underscored her transitional phase, emphasizing recovery and long-term sustainability in the sport.

Technical profile

Selected skills

Rebeca Andrade is renowned for her powerful and precise execution across all apparatuses, with vault and exercise standing out as her strongest events due to her exceptional , form, and difficulty upgrades over her career. Her technical evolution reflects a progression from solid foundational elements in her junior years to elite-level innovations, incorporating high-difficulty releases on and dynamic tumbling passes on that have earned her multiple world and Olympic medals. On vault, Andrade's signature elements include the Baitova (Yurchenko double full), Amanar (Yurchenko 2.5), and Cheng (full-on Rudi), showcasing her ability to compete two of the most demanding vaults in women's gymnastics with near-perfect landings and height. She debuted the Amanar and Baitova in 2016, later integrating the Cheng as a second vault to maximize her start values, particularly evident in her 2023 Pan American Games performance where her Cheng scored 15.333, the highest ever recorded for that element. This progression highlights her vault as a cornerstone of her success, evolving from a 5.4 difficulty in early senior competitions to routinely attempting 6.0+ combinations by 2024. Andrade's uneven bars routine features a dynamic flight sequence, including the toe-on full Tkatchev, Van Leeuwen transition, piked Jaeger, and Maloney to Pak, connected with precision to build momentum toward her Chusovitina dismount (double front). These elements, first prominently showcased in with a 5.4 D-score, emphasize her swing amplitude and release skills, with the Van Leeuwen and piked Jaeger adding flight elements valued at D and E levels. Over time, she refined connections like the Maloney to Pak for composition bonuses, maintaining consistency despite the apparatus not being her top scorer, as seen in her steady 14+ execution scores in major events. On , Andrade executes a fluid combination of leaps and turns, such as the switch leap to sheep jump, full turn with leg up, alongside acrobatic series leading to her double pike dismount. Her routine, with a 5.4 D-score since 2017, incorporates the switch leap (C) connected to sheep jump for dance requirements, and the full turn with leg up (A or higher) for turns, balanced by front aerials and back handspring-layout stepouts. The double pike dismount (E) caps her beam work, a she has stuck reliably since , contributing to her evolution from tentative early routines to more confident, high-execution performances. Floor exercise represents Andrade's artistic and acrobatic peak, with signature elements like the Memmel turn series, triple twist, Chusovitina II (double layout half-out), and double layout, integrated into passes that highlight her flexibility and power. Starting with a 5.3 D-score in 2017 featuring double Y turns and double layouts, she upgraded to include the triple twist and Chusovitina II (H panel) by the early , achieving 6.5+ difficulties while earning execution scores above 8.0. This development underscores as her most dominant apparatus, where she has consistently pushed boundaries, such as in her 2024 Olympic all-around final routine.

Floor music

Rebeca Andrade's floor routines have consistently incorporated music that celebrates Brazilian culture, blending international pop with local rhythms to emphasize her heritage and energetic style. Early in her career, her selections drew on samba influences, reflecting the vibrant traditions of her home country. From 2016 to 2018, Andrade performed to a remix medley featuring Beyoncé's "" and "Single Ladies," infused with elements that highlighted Brazilian flair during her . This choice allowed for dynamic transitions in her routine structure, syncing upbeat percussion with turns and layouts to create a festive atmosphere. In 2019 through 2022, she shifted to "Baile de Favela" by , a track originating from São Paulo's favelas that captured the raw energy of Brazilian street culture and propelled her performances with rhythmic intensity. The music's pulsating beat complemented her routine's flow, particularly during high-energy sequences that showcased her power and precision. For 2023 and 2024, Andrade debuted a medley combining Beyoncé's "End of Time," Anitta's "Movimento da Sanfoninha," and MC João's "," merging global pop with Brazilian funk to underscore her cultural roots and artistic evolution. This eclectic selection tied into her routine's thematic narrative, building from melodic builds to explosive climaxes that aligned with acrobatic peaks, such as triple twists. Following her 2024 Olympic success, Andrade announced in early 2025 that she would retire from exercise competition to focus on recovery and other events, effectively concluding her era of innovative music choices on the apparatus.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Rebeca Andrade was raised in a large family in the of , , by her single mother, Rosa Santos, alongside seven siblings, an upbringing that instilled values of resilience and close-knit support. Andrade maintains a particularly strong bond with her mother, whom she credits for enabling her pursuits through personal sacrifices, such as walking to work to allow Andrade to use her bus pass for training commutes. Her s, including older brother Emerson who accompanied her to the gym, have been equally instrumental in her journey, providing emotional grounding amid rising fame and helping her stay focused on personal goals rather than external pressures. Rosa Santos has remained a constant presence at major events, including the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she embraced her daughter after medal wins, underscoring the family's ongoing role in her career support. Andrade has highlighted her bonds as a key source of motivation, noting their shared hardships fostered a sense of unity that propels her forward. In her personal life, Andrade was in a public relationship with Brazilian bodybuilder Luiz Cleiton from June 2022 until August 2024, which ended amicably. She confirmed her single status in a September 2024 interview, stating, “I’m single, guys!” while emphasizing her focus on happiness and career achievements. Andrade has no children.

Health challenges

Rebeca Andrade has faced significant health challenges throughout her career, most notably three tears to the (ACL) in her right knee, each requiring . The first occurred in 2015 at age 16 during training, leading to her missing the World Championships that year; she underwent ACL reconstruction and returned to competition after approximately six months of rehabilitation focused on strengthening and mobility exercises. Her second ACL tear happened in October 2017 while preparing for the World Championships in , where she was forced to withdraw; this injury prompted another reconstruction surgery, followed by an intensive physiotherapy regimen that emphasized gradual load-bearing and training, allowing her to make her senior World Championships debut nearly a year later in 2018. The third tear struck in June 2019 during Brazilian national trials for the , resulting in yet another ACL reconstruction combined with anterolateral repair using a graft from her left knee; her recovery involved about six months of structured physiotherapy before resuming full training in late 2019, with a competitive return in March 2020. In addition to the ACL injuries, Andrade has endured other physical setbacks, including an ankle during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics that affected her floor exercise qualification but did not prevent her from competing in other events, as well as general overuse strains attributed to the high-difficulty elements in her routines, such as powerful vaults and floor passes. Overall, these challenges have necessitated eight surgeries in total—three for her ACL tears and five others addressing related , foot, and lower leg issues—each accompanied by prolonged physiotherapy protocols to restore joint stability and prevent re-injury. The cumulative toll of these injuries has influenced Andrade's career trajectory, testing her physical resilience while contributing to her remarkable longevity at the elite level; however, in August 2025, she announced an extended break from competition until 2026 to prioritize physical recovery, including ongoing knee management, ensuring sustainable preparation for future events like the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In conjunction with her break, Andrade announced that she would drop the floor exercise from her routine upon return, citing its high impact on her body after 21 years of gymnastics to extend her career toward the 2028 Olympics.

Education and interests

Andrade began with clinical sport Aline Wolff at the age of 13, a partnership that has lasted over a decade and provided crucial support in navigating the intense pressures of elite-level and the emotional toll of setbacks. This ongoing has equipped her with tools to maintain mental resilience, emphasizing emotional balance and amid high-stakes competition. Inspired by her experiences with Wolff and a desire to help others facing similar challenges, Andrade is pursuing a degree in at Estácio in Rio de Janeiro, where she balances evening classes with her training schedule. She has expressed intentions to deepen her studies and apply psychological principles professionally after retiring from , viewing it as a way to give back to the athletic community. Beyond her athletic and academic pursuits, Andrade harbors passions for fashion, frequently showcasing her style through high-profile photoshoots and appearances, including multiple covers for Vogue Brazil. She also enjoys Brazilian funk music, incorporating tracks like "Baile de " into her routines as a nod to her cultural roots from São Paulo's favelas. Additionally, Andrade advocates for awareness through , notably emphasizing therapy's role in her preparation leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Drawing from her favela upbringing, she supports youth from similar backgrounds via inspirational initiatives that promote access to and . Therapy with Wolff was pivotal in Andrade's 2025 decision to extend her competitive break, allowing her to prioritize mental recovery and long-term well-being.

Achievements and records

Competitive history

Rebeca Andrade has amassed a total of 6 Olympic medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) and 9 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze) across her international career.

Olympic Games

YearEventPlacementMedal
2016 (Rio de Janeiro)Team8th-
2016 (Rio de Janeiro)All-around11th-
2021 ()All-around2ndSilver
2021 ()Vault1stGold
2024 ()Team3rdBronze
2024 ()All-around2ndSilver
2024 ()Vault2ndSilver
2024 ()Floor exercise1stGold

World Championships

YearEventPlacementMedal
2018 ()Team7th-
2021 ()2ndSilver
2021 ()Vault1stGold
2022 ()All-around1stGold
2022 ()3rdBronze
2023 ()Team2ndSilver
2023 ()All-around2ndSilver
2023 ()Vault1stGold
2023 ()3rdBronze
2023 ()2ndSilver

Pan American Games and Championships

YearEventPlacementMedal
2018 Pan American Championships (Lima)Team2ndSilver
2018 Pan American Championships (Lima)Uneven bars6th-
2021 Pan American Championships (Rio de Janeiro)Team1stGold
2021 Pan American Championships (Rio de Janeiro)All-around1stGold
2022 Pan American Championships (Rio de Janeiro)Team1stGold
2022 Pan American Championships (Rio de Janeiro)Uneven bars1stGold
2022 Pan American Championships (Rio de Janeiro)Balance beam2ndSilver
2023 Pan American Games (Santiago)Team2ndSilver
2023 Pan American Games (Santiago)Vault1stGold
2023 Pan American Games (Santiago)Uneven bars2ndSilver
2023 Pan American Games (Santiago)Balance beam1stGold
Andrade has demonstrated all-around dominance in Brazilian national championships from 2015 to 2024, securing multiple all-around titles, including in 2016, 2021, and 2022, along with numerous apparatus victories.

Awards and honors

Rebeca Andrade received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award in 2025, recognizing her remarkable recovery from multiple knee injuries to achieve historic success at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This marked the first time a Brazilian woman won a Laureus award, highlighting her resilience and contributions to . In 2024, Andrade was named to the BBC's 100 Women list, celebrating her global influence as an athlete from a disadvantaged background who has inspired diversity and resilience in sports. Her inclusion underscored her role in promoting mental health awareness and breaking barriers for women in gymnastics. Andrade has been honored multiple times at the Prêmio Brasil Olímpico, earning the Best Female Athlete award in 2021 following her Tokyo Olympic medals and again in 2024 as the overall Best Athlete (Troféu Rei Pelé) for her Paris performances. She also received the Best Gymnast accolade at the event for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024. Andrade holds the record as Brazil's most decorated Olympian with six medals across two Games, surpassing previous records set by sailors Robert Scheidt and Torben Grael. She made history as the first Brazilian to win a World all-around title in 2022, securing gold at the Championships in . Her broader societal impact has been recognized through advocacy efforts, including support for environmental initiatives and programs in underserved communities, earning her mentions in global lists for inspirational leadership.

References

  1. https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/athletes/bio_detail.php?id=37359
  2. https://olympics.com/en/athletes/rebeca-andrade
  3. https://www.panamsports.org/en/news-sport/simone-biles-and-rebeca-andrade-shine-at-the-laureus-world-sports-awards-2025/
  4. https://olympics.com/en/news/rebeca-andrade-expectations-biles-gymnastics-history-2024
  5. https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/rebeca-andrade-meet-athlete
  6. https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/rebeca-andrade-gymnastics-world-championships-2025
  7. https://kids.kiddle.co/Rebeca_Andrade
  8. https://www.essentiallysports.com/olympics-gymnastics-news-rebeca-andrade-makes-an-unsettling-confession-after-announcing-retirement-from-gymnastics-event/
  9. https://www.quintoandar.com.br/guias/rebeca-andrade-quintoandar/
  10. https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/08/01/g-s1-14808/olympics-simone-biles-rebeca-andrade-gymnastics-silver-medal
  11. https://www.terra.com.br/nos/quem-e-a-mae-de-rebeca-andrade-que-criou-a-filha-sozinha-com-salario-de-domestica%2Cdec97ad9c06feeea440bab3904589e23fjxr9itl.html
  12. https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/geral-58017962
  13. https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2024/07/30/cria-de-projeto-social-de-guarulhos-na-grande-sp-rebeca-andrade-leva-equipe-brasileira-a-conquistar-medalha-inedita-em-paris.ghtml
  14. https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/articles/crgly6136y1o
  15. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210802-andrade-s-story-from-favela-to-olympic-gymnastics-fame
  16. https://www.elle.com/culture/a64166554/rebeca-andrade-olympic-gymnast-interview-2025/
  17. https://www.cob.org.br/time-brasil/medalhistas-olimpicos/rebeca-rodrigues-de-andrade
  18. https://www.esportealternativo.com.br/londres2012-ginastica/atleta-juvenil-da-ginastica-artistica-feminina-brilha-no-trofeu-brasil-em-toledo.html
  19. https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20240726709347/meet-rebeca-andrade-the-latina-gymnast-is-simone-biles-biggest-competitor/
  20. https://thelist.com/1639253/olympic-gymnast-rebeca-andrade-stunning-transformation/
  21. https://www.gymperium.eu/Competition/722/
  22. https://www.estadao.com.br/esportes/olimpilulas/aos-14-rebeca-andrade-e-campea-brasileira-de-ginastica/
  23. https://mail.esportealternativo.com.br/ginastica/campeonato-brasileiro-define-campeoes-da-ginastica-artistica.html
  24. https://thegymter.net/2013/08/25/2013-south-american-junior-championships-results/
  25. https://gymnasticsresults.com/archive/2013/am/col/sachjun/wag/junef2ub.pdf
  26. https://gymnasticsresults.com/archive/2013/am/col/sachjun/wag/junef3bb.pdf
  27. http://podiosport.blogspot.com/2013/12/ginastica-brasileira-encerra.html
  28. https://www.flogymnastics.com/articles/5037884-results-junior-pan-american-championships-all-around-finals
  29. https://usagym.org/usa-wins-team-all-around-gold-medals-at-2014-junior-pan-am-championships/
  30. https://wagymnastics.fandom.com/wiki/2014_Junior_Pan_American_Championships
  31. https://www.gymperium.eu/Competition/835/
  32. https://thegymter.net/2014/02/08/2014-woga-classic-results/
  33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uyscix2Ecc
  34. https://thegymter.net/2014/07/21/2014-youth-olympic-games-competitors/
  35. https://balancebeamsituation.com/elite-routine-database/rebeca-andrade/
  36. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/brazilian-rebeca-andrade-historic-all-around-gold-liverpool-gymnastics-2022
  37. https://www.nbcolympics.com/videos/rebeca-andrade-stuns-cheng-vault-all-around-finals
  38. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/rebeca-andrade-flavia-saraiva-beam-brazil-trophy
  39. https://www.bustle.com/articles/177793-the-gymnast-who-used-beyonce-as-her-floor-music-is-beautifully-representing-brazil
  40. https://www.olympics.com/en/video/rebecca-andrade-dazzles-the-home-crowd-with-single-ladies-at-rio-2016-music-mond/
  41. https://www.gymnastics-history.com/2021/07/2021-the-floor-music-of-the-tokyo-olympics/
  42. https://wcti12.com/news/entertainment/brazils-rebeca-andrade-tumbles-into-stardom-to-hometown-funk-tune
  43. https://www.gymnastics-history.com/2023/10/2023-the-floor-music-of-the-world-championships/
  44. https://www.gymnastics-history.com/2024/08/2024-the-floor-music-of-the-paris-olympics/
  45. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/rebeca-andrade-brazil-eye-paris-2024-qualification-gymnastics-world-championships-2023
  46. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/rebeca-andrade-my-focus-is-on-recovering-my-body
  47. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/rebeca-andrade-extends-break-gymnastics-miss-2025-worlds
  48. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/women-shaped-rebeca-andrade-success-interview
  49. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/rebeca-andrade-mom-siblings-gymnastics-weekly-update
  50. https://www.legit.ng/ask-legit/biographies/1637745-rebeca-andrades-parents-siblings-a-story-resilience-breakthrough/
  51. https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/olympics/news-who-rebecca-andrade-s-boyfriend-everything-know-brazilian-gymnast-s-dating-life-luiz-cleiton
  52. https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-olympics-news-gymnastics-news-rebeca-andrade-announces-split-with-long-time-boyfriend-ending-relationship-rumours-after-paris-olympics/
  53. https://religionofsports.substack.com/p/surgery-after-surgery-an-historic
  54. https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/rebeca-andrade
  55. https://www.flogymnastics.com/articles/6014621-brazils-rebeca-andrade-out-of-2017-world-championships-with-acl-injury
  56. https://eng.gymnovosti.com/rebeca-andrade-had-a-third-acl-injury/
  57. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/brazilian-gymnast-rebeca-andrade-makes-successful-return-to-competition
  58. https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/brazil-gymnastics-rebeca-andrade-flavia-saraiva
  59. https://www.wsj.com/articles/rebeca-andrade-gymnastics-brazil-11667617728
  60. https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=4408723
  61. https://www.essentiallysports.com/olympics-gymnastics-news-rebeca-andrade-reveals-painful-moment-for-family-and-team-after-major-setback-almost-ended-gymnastics-career/
  62. https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-gymnastics-news-following-in-simone-biles-others-footsteps-rebeca-andrade-opens-up-on-mental-health-struggles-its-enough/
  63. https://valorinternational.globo.com/business/news/2025/10/02/from-medals-to-mental-health-rebeca-andrade-pursues-psychology.ghtml
  64. https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-olympics-news-gymnastics-news-struggling-in-darkness-rebeca-andrade-makes-heartfelt-admission-after-simone-biles-comparison-i-owed-her/
  65. https://www.vogue.com/article/brazilian-gymnast-rebeca-andrade-wins-gold-and-hearts-in-paris
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  69. https://www.panamsports.org/en/news-sport/rebeca-andrade-wins-gold-and-silver-in-artistic-gymnastics-apparatus-competition/
  70. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/santiago-2023-rebeca-andrade-flavia-saraiva-gold-silver-balance-beam-pan-am-games-results
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  72. https://thegymter.net/rebeca-andrade/
  73. https://www.laureus.com/world-sports-awards/2025/laureus-world-comeback-of-the-year/rebeca-andrade
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  75. https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/bbc-reveals-100-women-2024
  76. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/rebeca-andrade-named-to-bbc-s-women-of-the-year-after-paris-2024-gold
  77. https://www.olympics.com/pt/noticias/premio-brasil-olimpico-2024-rebeca-andrade-rayssa-leal-vencedores-esportes-individuais
  78. https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/andrade-upsets-biles-floor-become-most-decorated-brazilian-olympian-biles-takes-silver-chiles
  79. https://earthshotprize.org/news/the-global-stars-supporting-the-earthshot-prize-awards-night-2025/
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