Rebeca Andrade: “I don’t think I imagined the number of medals."

As the women’s team final was coming to a close earlier this month at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade was last to go for her team on their final event, vault, as they stood on the precipice of a historic team medal.

The Olympic vaulting gold medallist from Tokyo 2020 in 2021 sprinted down the runway, performed with her trademark style and power, and catapulted her squad to a silver medal.

Andrade couldn’t even make it all the way back to the chairs for the apparatus before her team had surrounded her in celebration.

“It was a long-awaited moment, for many years,” Andrade told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview at the end of the Worlds. “I, too, was very happy and proud of our team and of everything we did in the competition. We were there, doing our best and looking for our best result. It was something that made us very, very happy.”

Long-awaited indeed.

The medal comes some 16 years after Jade Barbosa’s first global medal and eight years after Andrade and Flavia Saraiva’s senior international debuts.

Through all the ups and downs, what is undoubtedly Brazil’s greatest generation of female gymnasts ever have become closer than simply teammates.

“I think my team is my second family,” said Andrade. “We need to have this connection, and this thing of always supporting and helping each other, which makes a lot of difference, because we are [family] in competition and out, as well. We fight when we have to fight, it’s really just like a family. They’re like my sisters.”

More history for Andrade

If it seems like Andrade has made history almost every time she’s competed in the last two years, it’s because she has.

At the Tokyo 2020 Games, she became the first South American woman to climb to the women’s gymnastics all-around podium, taking silver behind American Suni Lee, and the first Brazilian woman to win Olympic gold, when she soared to victory in the vault final.

She backed up that performance with gold medals at both the 2021 and 2022 World Championships, including last season’s all-around crown.

In Antwerp, she claimed five of a possible six medals, including a second World vaulting title.

She was part of a historic women’s all-around podium that saw three Black women; Simone Biles, Andrade, and Shilese Jones, claim the medals.

“It was a historic podium,” Andrade said. “I think for many people, it’s something that inspires so much because we keep showing that, even with all the difficulties, it’s possible to do it. Being among these three Black women was something very, very, very incredible for me.”

It’s a resume that might have seemed impossible to the 24-year-old just four years ago as she watched the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, from the stands, recovering from a third ACL tear in four years.

“I don’t think I imagined the number of medals, but I really wanted that,” said Andrade of her 11 career World and Olympic medal haul. “From the moment I had it in my head that that was what I wanted, I knew it could happen.

“It didn’t go through my head every day,” she continued, “If I said this went through my mind, it would be a lie, but every time I arrive at a competition, it’s to fight.”

A cautious approach

Since her three major knee injuries, Andrade has picked her spots to compete extremely carefully.

After her 2022 World all-around win, she didn’t compete on the floor exercise again until this year’s Worlds in Antwerp.

“I have complete freedom to talk to Chico [Francisco Porath], who is my coach, and he knows that when I'm in pain, I tell him that, 'Today, it is very difficult. Is it okay for us to hold off on that workout, to do a lighter workout?' because he knows that the next day I'm going to arrive at the gym and I'm going to do my best,” explained Andrade of her approach. “This is very important to me. This exchange that we have, this trust that we have in each other - and also, the physical part, the physical trainer, the multidisciplinary part also with physiotherapy, massage therapy, psychologist [is important].

“I think that the combination of all these things makes me feel good and prepared, even after all the surgeries, even after long days of competition, of coming and talking like this, 'everything will work out. I'm fine, I can do it,'” she continued. “Even though I'm extremely physically or, sometimes, mentally tired, you know? I think the preparation that we do daily inside the gym helps. It prepares me to be here.”

Paris on the horizon: "The only person I can control is myself."

This week, she’s preparing for her final competition of the 2023 season: the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where she’ll compete on every event beside floor exercise.

Then, it’ll be time to focus on the Paris 2024 Games.

Andrade has been to the City of Light each of the last two seasons for the World Challenge Cup at Bercy Arena, that will showcase gymnastics at the 2024 Games in France.

She’s enjoyed her time in the French capital, but still has one spot left to explore.

“I think I was able to see everything I wanted, except the Louvre,” said Andrade. “I really wanted to be able to go in and look and observe everything and I still haven’t been able to.”

Fitting for someone whose art on the field of play would be right at home next to the Mona Lisa or Venus de Milo.

As for the Games themselves, Andrade has a message to her supporters.

“They should wait for me to give 110%, regardless of what happens in the competition,” she said. “I need them to know that, you know? That we will arrive to do our best. I will get there, give myself, body and soul, even with all the attention and expectations.

“I think the main thing is to arrive at the competition, do my best and be very happy,” she continued, “because the only person I can control is myself. I hope to be able to bring a lot of joy to my country.”