Rebeca Andrade is a name synonymous with overcoming difficulties and claiming to the pinnacle of success. At 25, she is the most decorated Brazilian gymnast who can keep even the GOAT of gymnastics, Simone Biles, on her toes. And why not? She boasts a portfolio that includes six Olympic medals and nine world championships. But Rebeca Andrade’s story is not all roses and sunshine. In fact, it’s far from what we can call a smooth ride.

Rebeca might be basking in glory now, but her ascent to the pinnacle of her sports is marred with struggles, uncertainties, and, above all, injuries that can easily end an athlete’s career. At every milestone that seems to have promised Rebeca a bright future, the physical and mental toll of injuries has tested her resilience. At the age of 16 in 2015, Rebeca suffered a major blow when she was struck down by an ACL. Consequently, she missed the World Championships that year. Speaking about the horrible incident that was almost the end of her career, Rebeca Andrade told gshow.globo.com, “I had trauma, I couldn’t talk about the injury. Whenever Aline brought up the subject, I changed the subject. I was very sad and disappointed in myself for knowing my potential and every time I was almost there, something happened.”

But that was just the beginning of a series of injuries that could have easily derailed anyone’s career. She had two more ACL injuries between 2015 and 2019, and she had to undergo reconstructive surgeries with long healing times. However, beyond the injuries and setbacks in her career, Rebeca Andrade had to struggle through a difficult childhood to finally bloom into Brazil’s top gymnast. Growing up in a family of eight, she had to struggle with extreme poverty to realize her dream of gymnastics. “The hardest part was the financial aspect,” Andrade said, according to CGTN America.

Her mother would even struggle to provide her bus fare, and as a result, she had to walk with her brother two hours each way to continue her training at the gym. Likewise, she had to separate from her family at the tender age of 10 to hone her skills in gymnastics. However, neither the childhood struggle nor the ACL injuries could hold back this destined champion.

Despite coming off her third ACL injury in 2019, Rebeca aced the Tokyo Olympics with a gold in the vault. Likewise, the world championship between 2021 and 2023 would witness the brilliance of the Brazilian gymnastic star as well, with Rebeca Andrade claiming three golds. But it was not until the 2024 Paris Olympics where she showcased her true metal. With a haul of two silvers, a bronze, and a gold, Rebeca Andrade cemented her legacy as one of the greatest gymnasts Brazil has ever produced.

How did Rebeca Andrade’s coach and her therapist help Rebeca become the gymnastic queen?

The 2x Pan American Champion, Rebeca Andrade, has always found unflinching support from her mother and her siblings. “My older brothers always took great care of the younger ones, they always tried to help my mother as much as possible,” she said. However, it’s the support of her family alone that transformed her into a gymnastics legend. During childhood, when financial constraints could have almost ruined the prospects for Rebeca Andrade, her coach, Keli Kitaura, came to the rescue.
Realizing the untapped potential in Andarde, she took her to a high-performance centre in Curitiba to help her unleash her true potential. 

Her move to Curitiba was the first step, a long journey that would take her to the top of her career. But that’s not it; the childhood struggle and a constant tussle with injuries put a massive toll on the Brazilian phenom. But her long-term therapist, Aline Wolff, who completely changed her outlook towards her body, helped her overcome every injury and setback. Through all the setbacks and struggles, Rebecca Andrade came out strong and continued to shine in the gymnastics world. Her journey is a true testament to triumphing over adversaries and staying strong through tough times.