By: Jeanette Hernandez
All eyes are on Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade after her stunning floor final win against Simone Biles this week. But who is she? Here are five facts you might not know about this incredible Latina athlete.
Rebeca Andrade just made history. After defeating Simone Biles in the Paris 2024 Olympics floor final, this Latina Olympian is now Brazil’s most decorated gymnast.
Andrade is one of this year’s most talked-about Olympians. After earning the gold medal, Team USA athletes Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed down to Andrade, creating one of the most iconic Olympic photos. When asked why they bowed, Biles reportedly said: “Rebeca's so amazing, she's a queen. She's such an excitement to watch, and all the fans in the crowd were always cheering for her, so it was just the right thing to do.”
And there’s a reason she’s a queen. In Paris, Andrade earned a total of four medals: one gold, two silver, and one bronze. She now holds a total of six Olympic medals, surpassing Brazilian sailor Robert Scheidt, who has five.
But what else do we know about Andrade? Here are five things you might not know about this talented Latina.
We love seeing Latinas supporting Latinas. In her final floor routine, Andrade used Anitta’s “Movimento da Sanfoninha.”
Anitta praised the historic gymnast by saying: “Queen of Brazil. Three big winners. This queen used my song during her entire solo performance in the competition, and I feel so emotional and proud, just like every Brazilian right now. Thank you, Rebeca, for representing us so beautifully and for using my song. That means the world to me.”
Throughout her professional career, Andrade has suffered from not one but three ACL injuries, including one that made her miss the World Championships in 2015. The other two ACL injuries occurred in 2017 and 2019.
Andrade reportedly began gymnastics at the age of four in Guarulhos, Brazil.
Yes! Andrade has her own Barbie. To celebrate the recognition, she wrote online: “I never imagined that one day I could be Barbie! It's an honor to have been chosen alongside such big names in sports as a Role Model on Barbie’s 65th anniversary.”
She continued: “Even more, this represents what it means to so many girls who may one day be inspired by my story and move forward, knowing they can be whatever they choose to be. For me, this tribute represents achievement, a dream come true, and a leap of faith. ❤️”
According to NBC Olympics, Andrade has seven brothers – and guess what? Three of them (Yago, Henrique, and Igor) also trained as gymnasts when they were children.
About the author: Jeanette Hernandez
Jeanette Hernandez is a music enthusiast based in Los Angeles, CA. She's currently a freelance writer and content creator for Remezcla, Brilla Latina, and more. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a seasoned bilingual Latin indie music publicist. You can find her musings via Instagram + Twitter: @jeanettehndz
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