Rebeca Andrade’s 4 visits to the Olympic podium at the Paris Olympics in 2024 were not just iconic but also historic! But this is not her first win at the Olympics, either. She started stacking her medals starting in 2020 in Tokyo. Rebeca’s Paris run has increased her Olympic medal tally to a whopping six! She won a silver medal in the all-around final, a bronze on vault, and also won Brazil’s first-ever Olympic bronze team medal. But wait a minute, let’s not forget the iconic gold she won in the floor exercise.

Amidst all the wins, on the same podium, a controversy brewed that nobody saw coming! One involving Jordan Chiles and Ana Bărbosu. The debate revolved around scoring discrepancies and the appeals process. Chiles initially received a difficulty score of 5.9, which seemed unjust. Thus causing her coach to call for an appeal. The appeal favored Chiles, putting her in third place and kicking Romanian gymnast Ana off the podium.

But the saga continued with a series of appeals and counter-appeals filed by both Romania and the USA. The Court of Arbitration, however, has reversed the appeals and given Ana the bronze medal. Rebeca went on to talk about the same and said, “It’s a mess. We don’t know what the end will be like but the girls asked for an appeal of note, so you can review everything that’s happening. But I really don’t know how the FIG will solve this.”

But for Rebeca, the winning moment was something more. Of course, the gold on the floor was iconic in itself, but on the podium, something beat this iconicity! In second place, with silver, was Simone Biles, and in third place was Jordan Chiles. The two bowed to Rebeca in an act of solidarity. “It was sensational, I think they understood that. It was also a moment, it was a very special and important moment for me.”

But that’s not all that was special about this podium. “And at the same time, for us, there were three black women representing so many things. It was so special, it was historic, had never happened, you know, so I don’t think it was bow just for me but for all the girls, women and all the people that fought so hard to show that it is possible, you know that it can happen, that we deserve to be there,” Rebeca added.

Biles-Andrade and their camaraderie go beyond rivalries

There was another silent story that was told on the historic podium! The Simone Biles-Rebeca Andrade camaraderie. A relationship that has seemingly transcended the realm of mere competition. Rebeca even went on to talk about the same: “You only know your story and what story you want to tell. And the one we wanted to tell was that despite being opponents in the gym, there is no rivalry between us because we always support each other regardless of where we are. And I am really rooting for her (Simone), I was very happy that she came back after such a difficult period and time in Tokyo when she had to give up.”

But this is no one-way street! Biles recently went on record to say, “She’s (Rebeca) way too close. I’ve never had an athlete that close.” Mutual respect, love, and support seem to be the way for athletes! Rebeca went on to talk about how there is a sense of community and sportsmanship among gymnasts. She also added, “I think that’s what sport is. There are people there by your side and you encourage other people who are there by your side.”

Rebeca who herself has had a journey that oozes resilience, also went to talk about Biles’s stones along the journey of hitting milestones. Rebeca has had a journey hampered by injuries. She experienced multiple ACL tears during her peak form, but she bounced back stronger every time. Much like the legendary Simone Biles, who had a period of low after experiencing twisties in 2020!

She went on to praise Biles for having the courage to put herself first, especially when the whole world’s eyes are on you. “For her to put herself first, that reassured the team, showing them they were prepared to face moments without her.It’s really good when you do it out of love, not out of obligation or because you know you’re good, she knows she is good, she is aware of it but she sees the person doing it with passion,” she added.