Rebeca Rodrigues de Andrade is a name synonymous with the epitome of Brazilian pride. And why wouldn’t she be? She is, after all, a six-time Olympic and nine-time World Championship medalist! But perhaps in all the years of gymnastics, the 2024 Paris Olympics has been one of the most iconic ones for her. There’s no forgetting the moment when Rebeca stepped on the podium for her gold in floor exercise. But of course, as the world knows, what happened next will go down in history as a moment when sports seemed to have taken a turn in the right direction!

The moment Rebeca stepped on and the queen of gymnastics, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, bowed for her is a moment that will live on. It was all an all-Black women’s podium, which in itself was a powerful statement, but of course, the queens had to add a little more! However, Rebeca’s journey to winning that gold was not an easy one. It is, in fact, a childhood rooted in sacrifice and struggle. But nevertheless, Rebeca knew what she was capable of despite the circumstances saying otherwise! Recently, however, her sister has revealed some slices from Rebeca’s childhood, and boy-boy-boy, there was some tea spilled!

Rebeca Andrade is manifesting her Olympic reality despite all odds!

Not so long ago, Rebeca Andrade’s sister Elisama was seen on the sets of Geral do Povo, a Brazilian talk show, spilling some tea. Elisama went on to talk about Rebeca’s childhood and the avalanche of conviction that reigned much before an Olympic medal. Elisama recalled one specific bus ride they took together as kids. It was the moment even Elisama knew her sister was going to do something big! So what exactly happened?

As Elisama puts it, “When we came, we took the van, and there was a boy in the van who saw her all uniformed and said, ‘Where are you going?’” Rebeca’s response? “‘I’m going to train. I’m going to be a champion.” But that’s not all; she went on to add, “I’m going to play in the Olympics. You’ll see, you’ll see me on TV.’” But here’s where it gets fun. The boy believed her! And not just that, the anonymous boy took it one step further, too!

Each time the sisters encountered him, he insisted on paying Rebeca’s fare, urging Elisama to use the money instead to buy Rebeca a snack after training. “Don’t forget about you,” he would remind her. “You’re going to be on TV.” It was a simple gesture of much-needed faith for Rebeca, who during those days was battling severe financial burdens. Rebeca grew up in a family of eight children who were raised by a single mother. And her childhood was, unfortunately, one woven by the strands of poverty.

In fact, there were times when her mother couldn’t afford the bus fare to the gym. Rebeca and her brother Emerson would walk over six kilometers, often collecting scrap metal along the way to earn enough for a bus ride back. And some days, even this was a distant reality. But despite these financial struggles, there was no denying Rebeca’s talent. Soon after, Rebeca catapulted into an early tryout that led to a scholarship and her joining the Paraná Center for Excellence. The rest, as they say, is history. However, Rebeca was not traversing these paths alone. She had a colossal support system!

The boat that helped Rebeca through it all!

May it be financial struggles, struggles of the mind, or even the body, the Andrade family always got each other’s back. Rebeca Andrade was the youngest of eight and was raised by her mother, Rosa, in Guarulhos, Brazil. They lived in a single room and shared one bathroom, often relying on donated clothes and borrowing money for essentials. Rosa worked day in and day out to provide for her children. And it was hard on her at times because gymnastics is no cheap sport. Additionally, Rebeca wasn’t the only one doing gymnastics!

Rebeca’s brothers Yago, Igor, and Henrique also dabbled in gymnastics. Although Rebeca shares a meaningful relationship with all, she is closest to her brother Emerson. Despite being nine years apart, the two are inseparable. While Rosa did do everything to provide for her family, it was Emerson who took on the responsibility of escorting Rebeca to her training center. When he was just 13, he found an old, rusty bike, which he fixed up so they could have a faster way to get to practice. Despite the bike often breaking down, they made the best of it. And now Rebeca can proudly say that their sacrifices paid off!

Today, Rebeca Andrade is the most successful Brazilian gymnast. And a two-time Olympic gold medalist! She’s also a three-time World Championship gold medalist and has won four Pan American Championship golds. Talk about writing a legacy! Even when Rebeca had faced a series of ACL injuries, it was her family that pulled her right back up. Now, with a support system like that, there are no limits to how far Rebeca Andrade can go.