Rebeca Andrade

Born on May 8, 1999, in Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil, Rebeca Andrade began her gymnastics journey at age four. Raised by her single mother, Rosa, alongside seven siblings, Andrade’s early training involved significant personal effort, including walking long distances to practice when transportation was not available. Her talent was recognized early, leading her to specialized training centers in Curitiba and later the Flamengo Club in Rio de Janeiro, where she continues to train. Her career has been marked by significant achievements at both junior and senior levels, demonstrating consistent performance despite considerable challenges.

Andrade’s career progression is defined by remarkable resilience, overcoming three ACL injuries in 2015, 2017, and 2019 that threatened to end her career. Each comeback showcased her determination, with her unwavering focus culminating in historic Olympic and World Championship medals. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first female Brazilian gymnast to win an Olympic medal, securing silver in the individual all-around and gold in the vault. Her success continued at the World Championships, where she earned multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals across various apparatus. Her powerful performances, including her floor routine set to ‘Baile de Favela,’ celebrate her heritage and inspire a new generation.

Her achievements solidified her status as the most decorated Brazilian and Latin American gymnast of all time, and also the most decorated Brazilian Olympian across all disciplines following Paris 2024. During this event, she led the Brazilian team to their first-ever team medal (bronze), secured two silver medals in the all-around and vault, and won gold in the floor exercise. She is one of only eleven female gymnasts to have medalled on every event at the World Championships, a testament to her versatile skill set and enduring commitment to the sport.