When Rebeca Andrade walked into that packed arena in Paris last year, no one would have expected what she did. She didn’t win one or two, but four medals. And all this while the Brazilian gymnast’s body suffered three ACL tears, countless rehabilitation sessions, and endured the kind of pain that would have ended most athletic careers. But Andrade isn’t like most athletes; she is resilient! That resilience paid off spectacularly in Paris. But for someone with six Olympic medals and nine from the World Championships, you might expect growing ambition, a hunger for more. But what Andrade shared took everyone by surprise.
Just last year, the world watched in awe as she claimed floor exercise gold, even getting the better of GOAT gymnast Simone Biles. She added silver medals in the all-around and vault competitions, plus a team bronze—the first Olympic team medal in Brazilian women’s gymnastics history. And it didn’t go unnoticed. Just 250 days later, the Brazilian star stood proudly on Madrid’s Laureus World Sports Awards stage, accepting the World Comeback of the Year accolade with heartwarming humility. Who knew what was to follow…
Rebeca Andrade recently sat down with Olympics.com. There was pride in her eyes and something else, too. A quiet clarity, a sense of peace. “I’m going to train for this Worlds,” she said. “I hope everything goes well and I get good results. I’m not even talking about being on the podium.” Wait, what?
This is the Rebeca Andrade we’re talking about. Brazil’s gymnastics icon. A woman who has bounced back from injuries and shone. But that’s exactly what makes her so special. Her honesty is disarming, refreshing, and real. “Of course, we work for that to happen,” she added, “but if it doesn’t, that’s okay. I want to arrive at the competition and be able to help the team, have everyone together. So, from a sporting perspective, the goal is Worlds.”
Andrade’s words echo louder when you know where she comes from. Born and raised in a favela outside São Paulo, she was one of eight children raised by her mother, Rosa Santos, a caring mother who juggled jobs and dreams to keep her kids going. That resilience? Yeah, it runs in the family. Right now, Andrade is focused more on healing than high-difficulty gymnastics. “I’m very calm, I’m not training hard [gymnastics elements] yet,” she explained. “The physiotherapy part is much more intense, and strength training too. But I’m still in the gym and we’re continuing to work, because you can’t stop.”
Rebeca Andrade with Olympic Gold Medal after winning the womens artistic gymnastics floor at the Olympic Games, Olympische Spiele, Olympia, OS Paris 2024 at Arena Bercy in Paris, France. Richard Callis/SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xRichardxCallis/SPPx spp-en-RiCa-RM4_richiecallis_05082024g-5537
And she knows this road all too well. After Tokyo 2020, she even thought about walking away from the sport altogether. But then came the messages—the ones from her mother, her siblings, her teammates—urging her not to give up. And she didn’t. She held on, worked through the pain, and carved out a historic performance in Paris. But something’s changed for now. She wants to compete on her terms. “Honestly, I’m just grateful to still be competing,” she said, eyes lighting up with that warm, familiar smile. “Every competition now is a gift.”
Oh boy, seems like a tough day for the gymnastics fans. And such a confession coming after her retirement announcement? Definitely crushing for the fans!
Rebeca Andrade to retire from the Floor
The floor mat was once Rebeca Andrade’s stage of dreams. It’s where she soared, spun, and danced her way into Olympic history. It’s where she claimed gold in Paris 2024. It’s where she left fans breathless in Antwerp and Liverpool, clinching World Championship medals in back-to-back years. But now, she’s stepping away.
Andrade, who said that first before the Paris Olympics, is firm in her decision to retire from floor exercise—the event that brought her some of her most iconic moments. “I’m sticking to the decision of not doing floor for now,” she said, speaking with quiet conviction. It’s a choice that stings for fans, perhaps. But for Andrade, it could be an act of self-respect. Her body has endured more than its fair share: ACL tears, relentless rehab, and the pressure of performing at the very top.
“Vault and bars are totally fine for me, so I’ll do them,” she said back in February, sharing a glimpse into her current mindset. “Beam, I’m not sure, but it’s not as demanding on my body as floor.”
She’s not closing the door on gymnastics—far from it. She’s just reshaping the path. For now, the tumbling passes and dramatic choreography of the floor will stay in the past, as she and her longtime coach Francisco Porath work to define what this next Olympic cycle will look like. “I’m still not sure [about the events], my coach can answer better than I can,” she laughed, “but we train everything… except floor.”
Stings, right? But the gymnast is listening to her body first, and we hope for nothing but the absolute best for her future. What are your thoughts on the same? Let us know in the comments!
The post Rebeca Andrade Makes an Unsettling Confession After Announcing Retirement From Gymnastics Event appeared first on EssentiallySports.
