When you come across a successful athlete, do you ever think about how they made it? or do you just see their stats of titles and medals? Usually it’s the latter! We hold them in such high regard that we usually overlook that they are humans just like us. We forget the fact that they may have gone through the same struggles or even worse than what we face every day. Not everybody who makes it big is born with a silver spoon, and one such athlete is Rebeca Andrade.

Rebeca currently holds 6 Olympic medals, 9 World Championship medals, 4 Pan American Games medals, and many more in gymnastics. From being named in the top 100 most inspiring and influential women by the BBC to being awarded Woman of the Year in Brazil, she has had it all at just the age of 25. But achieving any of it wasn’t straightforward for her at all. She had to battle her injuries, endure very demanding training, deal with her mental health issues, face severe backlash, and above all, fight poverty! But things are now changing for good.

Rebeca Andrade did not have it all on her plate

On December 9th, ‘Gymnast Queen’ was interviewed by Veja Rio, where she opened up about how visibility, the internet, and brand endorsements are helping athletes. Andrade said, “Athletes are gaining visibility that they didn’t have before. We are learning how to take advantage of the internet. I feel very honored to have so many brands by my side.” Athletes today are experiencing never-before-seen popularity, which is helping them bag big brand deals. It’s not just their on-field activity that’s adding to their popularity, but their stint on social media is boosting their glory too.

Rebeca Andrade herself has signed deals with brands such as Parmalat, Nivea, Volvo, Riachuela, Listerine, Marie Claire, Vult, and many more. Also, this year, when Barbie celebrated its 65th year, Olympians became some of the athletes to be immortalized as Barbie dolls. All such deals are changing her life and the lives of upcoming athletes as these companies are supporting them. “This changes our lives and the lives of people who are coming now to continue believing in their dreams and knowing that there are companies that can help and believe in them.”

The two-time Olympic golden girl had a very rough start. She comes from a family of eight siblings brought up by a single mother. Her mother, Rosa, cleaned houses in order to feed her children. But sometimes that won’t be enough, and they have to borrow money for food. Rebeca Andrade in an interview with Canal GB, confessed that “all the clothes I had came from people I knew.”

There was a time when Rebeca did not have any money to buy bus tickets. This would result in her walking for hours to reach her training center. Thus, the brand deals coming her way are a blessing for her. Her success hasn’t just brought fortune to her but to her family as well. She knows poverty inside out, and therefore she understands the importance of such deals for future athletes. It wasn’t just poverty that Rebeca had to battle to reach the top. But her mental struggles have also tested her time and again!

Rebeca Andrade’s battle with her own demons

Now celebrated as one of the most resilient gymnasts of all time, becoming what she is today was not at all easy. and some credit, along with her mother and coach, also goes to her psychologist, Aline Wolff. Talking to Fatima Bernardes on her YouTube channel in August 2024, the Olympian opened up about her mental health.

She talked about how it was Aline who helped her understand it was important for her to respect her body to give her best to her team. “Over time 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.” Rebeca Andrade’s journey from struggles to success feels straight out of a film. But it’s all true, and we are rooting for her to achieve much more.