Blurred vision, countless reconstructive surgeries—just imagine the mental toll that would take on any athlete. But for Rebeca Andrade, these challenges were merely obstacles on her path to greatness. At the Paris Olympics, she defied the odds and clinched gold, solidifying her status as one of the most resilient gymnasts in the world. Andrade’s journey has been anything but easy—from leaving her family as a child to pursue a gymnastics career to enduring injuries that would have crushed many others, she has faced storms that could have easily derailed her dreams. Yet, the 25-year-old powerhouse from Brazil has stood strong every time, earning six Olympic medals that speak to her unyielding spirit.

Andrade’s perseverance has made her the most decorated Brazilian gymnast of all time. But her story isn’t just about the medals—it’s about how she rose above adversity to outshine even the gymnastic GOAT, Simone Biles. How did she do it? Andrade credits her success to one simple principle: listening to her body, coupled with unwavering support from her mother, coach, and psychologist

Speaking with Fatima Bernardes on her YouTube channel, the Olympics champ opened up about the mental health issues throughout her career and how she overcame them. When Fatima Bernardes asked her if it’s good to bring to the front the mental health issues often faced by athletes, Rebeca shared her own experience in detail, throwing light on the importance of facing challenges and getting help. “I have worked with Aline since I was 13 years and today I am 25, so we have a long history right? Overtime we understand how our body works how our head works and we learn to respect ourselves It’s not clear when we are younger, we butt heads, we want to. But at some point it’s enough you know, I have been through a lot of surgeries too, so I always need to be very careful with the things I do. But because it’s not what I want so today I feel like I have arrived at a place where I can sit and talk to who is my coach and say I am feeling pain in my knee, I am feeling pain in my back on the foot and he will understand. I got to this point by talking to aline who is my Psychologist, she made me understand that I need to respect my body too because in order for me to give the best to my team I needed to respect my self. But I needed to comply my mission here is with girls with my team and for myself, too and I did it” explained Rebecca.

Like Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade prioritized mental health to bolster her performance

Andrade’s Journey through thick and thin is a testament to her resilience and perseverance. However, she didn’t shy away from accepting she needed help. Her constant companion in her mental struggle is her Psychologist, Aline Wolff, who completely revolutionized Rebeca’s outlook toward her own body and helped her realize her strength and limitations. Rebeca’s journey mirrors gymnastic great Simone Biles as well. Biles has to step down from the Tokyo Olympics following a severe case of twisties. The harrowing experience put a massive mental strain on the gymnastic legend. However, she sought help and made sure she could overcome the issue. She opened up about the mental struggle in her Netflix documentary, revealing she consulted her therapist extensively to keep twisties at bay during the Paris Olympics.

Andrade followed a similar approach. Speaking to the Fast Company Brasil during the Olympics, Alina Wolff, her Psychologist, revealed Rebeca’s outlook towards the expectations she has, her physical strength, and her mental well-being. She revealed, “Rebeca did not take on the obligations and expectations of others.’ Instead, she committed to herself, and that made all the difference. Rebecca Andarde took home four Olympic medals, including a gold, cementing her legacy and showcasing that she knows how to overcome physical or mental setbacks.