Rebeca Andrade is no stranger to defying the odds. The two-time Olympic champion from Brazil has cemented her status as one of gymnastics’ brightest stars, not just through her dazzling performances but through a journey marked by unrelenting resilience. After overcoming three ACL tears in 2015, 2017, and 2019, Andrade’s rise to the top—capped by vault gold in Tokyo 2020 and floor exercise gold in Paris 2024—has been nothing short of inspiring. Her ability to bounce back, time and again, has made her a fan favorite and a symbol of perseverance. But what’s next for the Brazilian superstar as she looks beyond Paris?

At the recent Laureus Awards in Madrid, Andrade dropped some tantalizing hints about her future. Her immediate focus? The 2025 World Championships in Jakarta. “I’m going to train for this Worlds, I hope everything goes well and I get good results. I’m not even talking about being on the podium,” she told Olympics.com, radiating a grounded confidence. Her goal isn’t just personal glory but team success, emphasizing unity and contribution over individual accolades. “I want to arrive at the competition and be able to help the team, have everyone together,” she added. And while her sights are set on October 2025, she didn’t shy away from sparking intrigue about a potential fourth Olympic appearance in Los Angeles 2028. What’s driving her to keep pushing forward?

Andrade’s approach to 2025 is methodical yet open-ended. Working closely with coach Francisco Porath, she’s still mapping out which events she’ll tackle in Jakarta. “I’m still not sure [about the events], my coach can answer better than I can, but we train everything… except floor,” she admitted. This cautious stance on floor exercise, despite her Paris 2024 gold, stems from the toll it takes on her knees—a lingering reminder of her injury-plagued past. Vault, where she’s a 2021 and 2023 world champion and owns Olympic gold and silver, remains her strongest suit.

Yet, her comments in Madrid also revealed a spark of curiosity about the future, particularly the new mixed team event debuting at LA 2028. “It’s going to be a very tough, very competitive event. I’m not sure if I’ll take part – we don’t know anything yet. But it’s interesting and I want to see it,” she said. Could this innovative format be the key to luring her back to the Olympic stage?

The prospect of Rebecca Andrade competing in 2028, at age 29, underscores her unrelenting ambition. The mixed team event, a fresh addition to the Olympic program, promises to shake up gymnastics with its blend of male and female athletes competing together. Andrade’s intrigue signals she’s not ready to close the door on her Olympic legacy just yet. For now, though, her focus remains on Jakarta, where she aims to lead Brazil’s charge while preserving her body for the long haul. With her trademark blend of grit and grace, Andrade is poised to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Will she conquer the Worlds and set the stage for one final Olympic run? While we wait for it to happen, Rebeca had an emotional flashback at the Laureus Award ceremony.

Rebeca recalls the Paris All Women Podium Moment

Rebeca Andrade is stealing the spotlight at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards! She won the Comeback of the Year. The Brazilian star earlier reflected on the Paris 2024 Olympic floor podium—her gold, Simone Biles’ silver, and Jordan Chiles’ bronze—the first all-Black women’s podium in Olympic gymnastics history. “That moment makes me feel very, very proud,” Andrade shared with Laureus. Overcoming three ACL tears, her joy was infectious. “I’m always smiling. Sometimes my cheeks hurt,” she laughed. But what made this podium so groundbreaking?

This wasn’t just a win; it was history. Andrade, Biles, and Chiles, from Brazil, the U.S., and different journeys, stood together in a powerful moment. “Three Black women on the podium, from different countries and with different stories,” Andrade said, noting its rarity. “I’m not one to cry much,” she added, but the weight of this milestone hit hard. With 1.8 million Instagram followers cheering her on, Andrade’s pride resonates globally. How will this iconic moment shape the future of gymnastics?