Disheartening news for Team Brazil! During the Paris Olympics gymnastics final, Flavia Saraiva, a 2-time Olympian and teammate of Rebecca Andrade, faced a tough break. While warming up for the uneven bars event, Saraiva took a hard tumble, slipping off the bar and landing flat on her back. It seemed she had a cut above her right eye and a bruise below it.

Despite the setback and the pain she was undoubtedly feeling, Saraiva picked herself up, patched up her cut with a bandage, and delivered a standout routine, scoring 13.666 to kick off the team final. Her performance was outstanding, leaving the gymnastics community in awe and proving that she’s not easily knocked off her game.

Saraiva, 24, is competing in her third Olympics after debuting in Rio in 2016. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she pushed through an ankle injury during floor qualifications to compete in the balance beam final. Now, with Team Brazil, including gymnastics star Rebeca Andrade, aiming for medals in Tuesday’s team final, Saraiva has shown incredible resilience. Despite a setback during warmups, she has come back strong with impressive routines on both the uneven bars and balance beam.

Heading into the 2024 Paris Olympics, she built on her recent achievements, including winning silver and bronze medals at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp. Despite these setbacks, Saraiva has emerged with a strengthened sense of confidence and resolve. As she puts it, “I am more confident with my body, knowing that it is prepared to withstand everything that comes. It is strong and it’s the most important thing of all to me”.She values the ability to enjoy every competition and give her best effort, viewing her physical strength as a key asset. When news of her latest injury surfaced, fans were initially stunned but quickly rallied around her, showering her with praise.

After Flavia Saraiva’s incredible feat, fans are raving about her resilience

Among the multitude of fans rallying behind her, one exclaimed, “Flavia hitting a full bar routine minutes after knocking her eye out + 10,000 AURA POINTS.” This resilience is nothing new for Saraiva, who faced tough times with ankle injuries that required surgery during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. At times, the struggles seemed overwhelming, and she even considered stepping away from the sport. However, with encouragement from her coaches, trainers, and teammates, she persevered. Her determination paid off as the 24-year-old not only helped her team secure a Paris 2024 Olympic quota spot and a historic team silver medal but also claimed her first individual global medal, a bronze in the floor exercise.

In the same vein, one fan cheered, “OKAY FLAVIA! Got that bandaid and kept it pushing!!!! AND DID WELL! <3 #Brazilgymnastics #OlympicGames.” Another fan couldn’t believe it, saying, “The fact that Flavia Saraiva performed her bar routine with a BLACK EYE from a fall during warmups and still NAILED it 😭😭😭😭 iconic.” And yet another praised her simply: “Flavia Saraiva is bad*ss.”

One fan noted, “Flavia suffered a cut over her eye that had to be bandaged, but she competed on bars and scored a very respectable 13.666. Good for her for fighting on.” Flavia’s grit was indeed remarkable, but on July 28th, Simone Biles also faced the same. She tweaked her calf while warming up for the floor exercise, but still, she came back and managed to deliver a captivating performance.

After coming back, Biles executed her signature Yurchenko double pike vault, known as the Biles II, which earned a 9.4 for execution and a total of 15.800 points, despite a step back on landing. Although she stumbled on her second vault, Biles showed her “Olympian Power.”

One more fan added, “Seeing a gymnast fall is gut-wrenching… I’m so glad Flavia is okay.” Another remarked, “A hit set for Flavia Saraiva on beam, so it seems like she’s okay after that fall on bars. I’m so sad we won’t be seeing that routine in beam finals. sigh” Yet another inquired, “Is Flavia okay??? I’ve seen some footage and it seemed rough.” It looks like things are shaping up well for Team Brazil, but the big question remains: Can they snag the gold and beat Team USA?

The USA women’s gymnastics team is a powerhouse that’s tough to beat, but several countries are gearing up to take a crack at their dominance in the 2024 Olympics. Brazil is one of those countries with a fighting chance. With top gymnast Rebeca Andrade in the mix, who might just give Simone Biles a run for her money in both the all-around and vault events, Brazil has the potential to shake things up. Andrade isn’t flying solo, though; the Brazilian team boasts a wealth of experience that could help them outshine other top contenders like China and Italy.

Brazil’s squad for the Paris Olympics includes Rebeca Andrade, Jade Barbosa, Lorrane Oliveira, Flavia Saraiva, and Julia Soares—five athletes, which is the maximum allowed. With such talent and depth, Brazil could very well turn the tables. So, what do you think? Is it wise to bet on Team USA to hold their ground, or should we roll the dice and back Team Brazil to pull off a surprise victory?