After experiencing three ACL tears, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade thought a number of instances about giving up gymnastics. None apart from Simone Biles, probably the most embellished gymnast of all time, inspired her to proceed.
That’s though Biles, in her latest Netflix documentary, Simone Biles Rising, admitted that Andrade is her fiercest competitor and “scares me probably the most.”
Learn Extra: What Are ‘the Twisties’ in Gymnastics? Simone Biles Confronted the Situation on the Tokyo Olympics
However it’s been a pleasant and respectful rivalry between the gymnasts for years. On the 2023 world championships, after the ground last by which Biles secured gold and Andrade silver, Biles positioned the crown she was given atop Andrade’s head.
“It’s an honor to compete alongside her, to cheer for her,” Andrade, 25, stated after serving to the Brazilian girls win their first Olympic medal within the workforce occasion in Paris, behind Biles and the U.S. girls’s gold. “Simone is a reference for your complete world, not only for gymnastics, however for a lot of athletes.”
Andrade, who will compete within the girls’s gymnastics all-around in addition to steadiness beam, ground, and vault particular person occasions in Paris, is herself is an icon within the sport in Brazil. “She certainly has made gymnastics extra widespread for younger folks,” says Luica Martins, a Brazilian fan attending the Video games. “She has a sparkle so I hope she does nice.”
Your Questions In regards to the Olympics, Answered
Andrade is the Olympic silver medalist within the all-around from Tokyo and was chosen by her countrymates to hold the flag on the closing ceremonies for these Video games. She gained the all-around title on the world championships in 2022, when Biles didn’t compete, bested Biles on the 2023 world championships in vault, and is the reigning Olympic vault champion. In Paris, she is predicted to unleash a brand new vault talent, a triple twisting Yurchenko by which she pushes herself off the vault in a backflip and executes three twists earlier than touchdown. If she does so efficiently, she is going to be a part of Biles in having a transfer named after her. (Biles has 5 thus far and is wanting so as to add to that tally.)
The Brazilian girls’s first ever medal within the girls’s workforce occasion is due largely to Andrade, and the curiosity in gymnastics that she has sparked—a robust sufficient motion to area a workforce of gymnasts that’s now among the many greatest on this planet. However the street to changing into Biles’ largest challenger hasn’t been straightforward. She’s used her restoration from her accidents to proceed including issue to her routines, bringing her the true chance of outscoring Biles if the Best of All Time has an off night time. “It’s about doing my greatest. And I hope [Biles] does too,” Andrade advised AFP.
