When two of the greatest gymnasts on the planet walk into the same room, you expect gold medals, fierce competition, and maybe a few jaw-dropping moments. But what no one saw coming was a moment so pure, so unexpectedly tender, it left fans speechless. No routines. No leotards. Just Simone Biles, letting her guard down and showing the world that some of the most powerful moments in sport don’t happen on the mat. They happen in quiet conversations, shared smiles, and the kind of friendship that doesn’t need a spotlight to shine. But surely, fans loved it. So, what is the backstory?
Well, right before the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, Laureus Sports dropped a clip on Instagram that had everyone talking. Simone was asked a simple question—who she was most excited to see at the ceremony—and without missing a beat, she lit up and said, “Rebeca.” That wasn’t just a shoutout. It was a full-on heart moment. “I feel like my and Rebeca’s friendship is so fun,” she said.
“It’s good rivalry; it’s healthy competition. And I feel like we push each other to each boundary, meaning our own personal boundaries.” Simone wasn’t reading off a script. This was real. “I’m always on my toes with her,” she added, and it wasn’t hard to see why fans were completely floored. That mutual push turned into a double win on the big night in Madrid.
Simone Biles took home her third Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award, celebrating a comeback that saw her reclaim all-around gold in Paris, along with team and vault titles, and a silver on floor. She called it her “Redemption Tour”—and honestly, she crushed it. But she wasn’t the only queen of the night.
Rebeca Andrade also earned the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award, bouncing back from injury setbacks to once again remind the world why she’s one of the fiercest competitors in the sport. And fans? They were eating it up. Social media exploded with love for both champions, not just for their wins, but for how they lift each other.
Fans are loving Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade’s heartfelt bond
One fan nailed it, saying, “She likes Rebeca. You can see it in her expression. That’s the way to go, girls!! Women supporting women. We can only beat this patriarchal world if we stick together.” And honestly, you can see why. When Simone talked about Rebeca in that video, her smile said it all—it was warm, real, and full of affection. Her eyes lit up, and you could just feel the love she had for her.
And it wasn’t the first time Simone Biles had shown love for Rebeca. Back at the 2024 Paris Olympics, when Rebeca snagged that gold in the floor exercise, Simone didn’t hold back. She called her “amazing” and even dubbed her “a queen.” It’s not just about competition for them; it’s about respect and lifting each other. One more fan wrote, “You are always so respectful and cute! ,” while another said, “We love this friendship! Come to Brazil!”
And then there was one fan who just couldn’t hold back, adding, “She is so beautiful!!! Can you see the light in her? I can do it !!!!!! We love Simone Biles @simonebiles.” Honestly, it’s no surprise. Simone Biles has always been about respect, and we’ve seen that over and over. A heartwarming instance took place during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Rebeca won the floor exercise gold medal, which earned respect from Simone Biles and her teammate Jordan Chiles through their admiration ritual. Rebeca stood on the podium while Simone and Jordan showed their admiration for her through a refined gesture of bowing. The act felt “just the right thing to do,” according to Simone, who conveyed her love with those words.
Before the event, Simone recognized Rebeca’s exceptional capabilities by stating “good” and even establishing her as one of the lead competitors. One more fan even joked, “Why does she give this cute little smile every time she talks about Rebs? Falling in love too much.” And honestly, it’s hard not to smile along with her. But it is not always Simone Biles but also Rebeca who has shared admiration for Simone, often expressing how much she looks up to her.
In a 2023 interview, she shared, “I’ve always had a lot of adoration for Simone, and I think she has for me as well, because she’s always treated me super well. Competing alongside her last year was so different, because I felt like she was competing for her, she was having fun, and it was such an honor to be there with her! She’s from another planet, right?!” Rebeca also didn’t hold back when talking about the challenge of competing against someone as legendary as Simone.
“Knowing that I gave Simone a bit of work is cool, right?” she said, clearly proud of the challenge she posed to the greatest of all time. She went on to call Simone “a phenomenon” and expressed how lucky she felt to compete alongside her in the Paris Olympics. The unique quality of their friendship emerges from the fact that both athletes follow each other’s progress and serve as each other’s supporters. This type of connection stands out for being something truly special.
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