Rebeca Andrade savoured a landmark moment when she stood atop an Olympic podium alongside Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles—gymnastics’ first-ever all-Black medal sweep.
Rebeca Andrade, already celebrated for her floor routine gold in Paris, now adds another accolade as a Laureus World Comeback of the Year nominee, having battled three ACL tears to reclaim her place among the elite.
A Podium for the History Books
“What makes me really, really proud,” Andrade told a Madrid audience, “was seeing my team’s emotion, my flag rising and hearing my anthem.”
Flanked by Olympic legend Nadia Comăneci and pole‑vault superstar Mondo Duplantis at a Laureus ‘Olympic Reflections’ event, the Brazilian star reflected on that floor exercise ceremony—an image of unity and resilience that sent “goosebumps” through her.
From Injury Setbacks to Golden Glory
Andrade’s journey to that podium wasn’t easy. Three anterior cruciate ligament injuries threatened to end her career. Instead, she choreographed a comeback worthy of cinema:
“We are on the podium as three Black women, each with our own different stories.”
Her nomination for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award cements that narrative—proof that determination and grit can rewrite even the toughest scripts.
Comăneci Cheers the Bow
Nadia Comăneci, the first gymnast to score a perfect 10, believes the moment should become tradition: “That was an amazing, historic photo and I think it should become a trend of the podium,” said Comăneci. “It doesn’t matter what country we’re coming from…to appreciate it like that shows amazing respect.”
Biles and Andrade: Mutual Respect
Andrade also paid tribute to Simone Biles, whose courage in Tokyo and dominance in Paris inspired her:
“She is so courageous. To leave the Olympics is so difficult…She is an amazing athlete and an amazing person—and she is still going strong.”
Training alongside Biles, Andrade said, keeps her sharp and hungry:
“I want to be competing against her for a long time because I think we compete really well against each other.”
Duplantis Finds Gymnastics Roots
Even Duplantis—whose 11 world‑record pole vaults speak to his own athletic audacity—drew inspiration from the gymnasts on stage: “There’s a lot of base gymnastics work that you need in order to do my sport…meeting these two is so cool for me. I think they are just amazing.”
A New Chapter of Inspiration
Rebeca Andrade’s Paris podium bow is more than a gesture—it’s a banner for inclusion, resilience and the lifelong bond between athletes across disciplines.
As she chases her Laureus comeback award tomorrow, that image of three champions unified in respect serves as a powerful reminder: in sport, as in life, shared triumphs echo far beyond the medal stand.
