Eight-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles is undeniably tough to beat, but it's not impossible. Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade might be Biles’ biggest rival in Thursday’s all-around finals. Andrade has faced Biles before, and in Biles’ recent Netflix documentary, the American star admitted that Andrade “scares” her the most among all her competitors.
At last year’s World Championships, Andrade clinched gold in the vault, while Biles took silver. This victory marked the first time anyone had surpassed Biles on the vault in that competition since 2015. Andrade also secured the world all-around gold medal in 2022.
However, Andrade’s journey to success has been anything but smooth. She has overcome potentially career-ending injuries, including ACL tears in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and has undergone three knee surgeries. Her resilience in the face of adversity is truly remarkable.
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Andrade became the first South American gymnast to step onto the all-around podium, earning a silver medal. She finished second to Team USA’s Sunisa Lee, but just four days later, she won gold on vault, defeating American MyKayla Skinner.
Andrade, a native of São Paulo, grew up with seven siblings and began gymnastics training at age 5 after her aunt took her to the gymnasium where she worked. Coming from humble beginnings, her mother, Rosa, cleaned houses to support the family and pay for Andrade’s training. In 2009, Andrade moved to Curitiba and then to Flamengo’s club in Rio a year later. Now, she’s an Olympic and world champion, and possibly a contender for the women’s individual all-around title in this summer’s Olympics.
One area where Andrade could potentially outshine Biles is on the uneven bars. While Biles performs a difficult routine, Andrade’s superior swing can earn her higher scores from the judges. The balance beam is a wild card: both gymnasts excel, but Andrade would need to increase the difficulty of her routine to outperform Biles. This apparatus could be the deciding factor between gold and silver.
On the floor routine, Biles’ difficulty level gives her a significant edge. However, with “artistry” now being a part of the score, Andrade’s captivating dance skills could be her secret weapon. Overall, Biles is favored on the floor unless Andrade upgrades her routine.
In the vault, Biles has the most challenging maneuver in women’s gymnastics, “the Biles II.” Yet, Andrade might perform her “secret vault,” the triple-twisting Yurchenko, which could get a vault named after her and elevate the competition. However, this is speculative, and it’s uncertain if she can execute the move.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain: Rebeca Andrade will give her all in the fight for gold. In an interview, she conveyed a clear message to her fans.
“They should expect me to give 110%, no matter what happens in the competition,” she said. “I will be there, giving my all, body and soul, despite all the attention and expectations.”
Trivia:
Simone Biles has four gymnastics skills named after her, showcasing her dominance and innovation in the sport.
Rebeca Andrade’s victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics made her the first Brazilian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics.
The triple-twisting Yurchenko, which Andrade might perform, is one of the most difficult vaults in women’s gymnastics and has never been successfully executed in competition.
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