“I’ve worked so hard to achieve this,” said Olympic gold medalist Rebeca Andrade after her victory at the women’s floor final at the Paris Olympics. The Brazilian gymnast, often seen in the spotlight as a top rival to Simone Biles, was certainly happy as a clam for her podium finishes, but what Rebeca probably didn’t realize at the time was the media attention that comes along with it.

Rumors about her dating began circulating after she was spotted dining and hanging with Gabi Guimaraes, the Olympic bronze medalist and the women’s Brazilian volleyball team captain. Andrade has cleared the air, stating that these rumors are untrue and that they are just friends. She emphasized that her main focus is on her career and training. 

On August 26, 2024, in an interview with Cazé TV, Rebeca Andrade addressed the relationship rumors with Gabi Guimarães in a lighthearted manner. Andrade found the speculation amusing and said, “I want to know what they’re saying about me.”

The rumors intensified when they were spotted together at a restaurant in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. A photo of Rebeca sitting in Gabi’s lap fueled speculation about their relationship. Despite the buzz, Andrade emphasized that their connection remains purely spiritual, and she values their friendship. In fact, Gabi seems to be on the same page as Rebeca, when the former posted a series of photos, commenting, “You’re amazing, man! Lots of love and admiration here.” She confirmed that she had seen many Instagram posts about the rumors and took them as a joke. But what is the actual story of Rebeca? Is she in a relationship?

She has had a boyfriend for several years now, and his name is Luiz Cleiton. They kept their relationship private for some time and then officially announced their love in 2022. Of recent, there haven’t been many posts about them which indicates that they’ve decided to keep things more low-key since. By profession, Cleiton is an engineer and a bodybuilder. From getting the crown of 2018 and 2022 state bodybuilding champion to becoming Mr. Rio’s title in 2022, he rose to prominence. On June 12, 2022, they posted a reel together where he captioned the post, “I’m here to tell you that my happiness depends on you.”

Later, after a couple of days, Rebeca cleared the air by posting a picture of them showing off their rings on her Instagram story, captioning it, “Mega special Christmas! It was worth waiting for you, my ‘God’s gift,” where she tagged Luiz. It is a Brazilian tradition for couples to wear a silver ring whenever they start a relationship. After that, they posted their pictures several times. But, as of now, she wants to keep her personal life aside and focus more on her training and career. 

Balancing fame and privacy: Rebeca Andrade’s focus on career

Rebeca Andrade’s extraordinary performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics cemented her as one of gymnastics’ all-time greats. She clinched the floor title with a score of 14.166, narrowly edging out Simone Biles, who scored 14.133, and Jordan Chiles. This win added to her impressive tally of six Olympic medals. Andrade also earned silver in the all-around and vault competitions. Reflecting on her success, she said, “I don’t think I imagined the number of medals, but I really wanted that.”

Her determination has been clear throughout her career: “From the moment I had it in my head that that was what I wanted, I knew it could happen. It didn’t go through my head every day… but every time I arrive at a competition, it’s to fight.” “Music reigns every day,” says Andrade, who blends her Olympic success with rhythm and melody. During a tribute event at Parque Villa Lobos last Saturday, she confessed feeling like a “pop diva.” Her journey includes historic milestones. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Andrade became the first South American woman to reach the all-around podium, finishing second to Sunisa Lee.

Days later, she made history again by becoming the first Brazilian woman to win Olympic gold in the vault. Andrade’s achievements extend beyond the Olympics. At the World Championships, she has won nine medals, including the 2022 world all-around and 2023 vault titles. She also led Brazil to its first-ever team medal last season. Andrade is active on social media, sharing her love for music through choreographed dances and singing. Despite her busy schedule, she values her downtime, especially after the Olympics. “I spent a lot of time sleeping because I am a tired person,” she admitted. 

As Andrade’s potential retirement looms, her legacy of excellence will inspire future generations. On X, Africanize posted, “Rebeca Andrade hints at retirement from gymnastics.” Andrade expressed uncertainty about her future, saying, “For me, it’s not a pressure, because I don’t even know if I’ll be there (in Los Angeles), right? Maybe I’ll stop before her (Simone Biles). As long as I’m well, healthy, I’ll practice my sport and be happy.” With her future uncertain, will Andrade continue in gymnastics or embrace a new chapter? Only time will tell.