Rebeca Andrade and Simone Biles are gymnastics royalty, and their rivalry at the Paris Olympics was nothing short of legendary. Throughout the Games, the Brazilians and the Americans battled it out for top honors, with Biles often coming out on top. But Andrade snagged her first gold medal in the individual women’s floor final, finally claiming her Parisian glory. Despite their fierce competition in the gym, their mutual respect outside of it has been a heartwarming highlight.

Both gymnasts were spotted cheering each other on, no matter who was winning or losing. When one faltered, the other was right there with applause. Reflecting on their epic rivalry, Rebeca Andrade gushed to CNN Esportes, “Simone, we know she is from another world, she is extremely talented and being able to compete alongside her is something which means a lot not only to me but represents a lot to many people.”

Andrade also shed light on the fact that while they both had a fierce desire to outshine each other, they genuinely appreciated each other’s gymnastics brilliance. She said, “So there were two athletes there with very high potential, along with other athletes too, of course, but as we are talking here about her and me, you know, with enormous potential who encouraged each other, who cheered for each other both they wanted to win But that didn’t stop us from wanting the best from each other, you know, I think that’s the most beautiful thing.”

She went on to emphasize how much it meant to share the stage with Biles, from the 2016 Rio Olympics to the 2021 Tokyo Games and up through the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Andrade noted that Biles is not just a significant figure in gymnastics but a global icon.

After a tough Tokyo experience, Andrade said it was an honor to compete alongside Biles, and it’s clear that the admiration is mutual. After their closely contested Olympic showdown, Simone Biles also had kind words for her Brazilian rival. Now that’s sportsmanship!

Simone Biles has heaps of praise for Rebeca Andrade as well!

Simone Biles never felt so much pressure inside a gymnastics event. But come Paris 2024, she almost lost her all-around gold thanks to some scintillating show from Rebeca Andrade. Giving Andrade her due flowers, Biles mentioned, “I don’t want to compete with Rebeca no more. I’m tired, like she’s way too close. I’ve never had an athlete that close.” The 7x Olympic gold medalist also appreciated how Andrade had battled her ACL injury and has still managed to come back and achieve so much in the gymnastics realm. 

Biles stated that when she witnesses someone like Rebeca Andrade achieving success, her inner self gets excited and filled with joy due to the realization of the hard work they put in. The US gymnastics queen also showed a great gesture when she and Jordan Chiles decided to bow down to Rebeca Andrade when she emerged victorious in the women’s individual floor final. Thus, putting up a great advertisement of sportsman spirit, both Rebeca Andrade and Simone Biles are shining examples of greatness in gymnastics. 

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