RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After a brilliant performance, Rebeca Andrade is the first Brazilian female gymnast to win a medal at the Olympics. She finished second and ended the all-round competition with the silver medal.
Rebeca Andrade narrowly lost to American Sunisa Lee but edged out Russian Angelina Melnikova, and became the first female Brazilian Olympic medalist in gymnastics. Before her, many had tried, but had not achieved their goal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQHQdBy-E3w&ab_channel=Brasilnasolimp%C3%ADadasdeT%C3%B3quio2020
Not everything has been a success in the life of the 22-year-old. She had many difficulties and broke off her education because of a complicated financial situation.
When she was four years old, she started training in a social project to introduce sports in São Paulo, in the Bonifácio Cardoso Gymnasium. At that time, it was her aunt who took her to a test. Mônica Barroso dos Anjos, a coach, and international referee, quickly realized that the little girl had a talent for the sport.
Due to modest family circumstances, Rebeca had to stop her training because of financial problems. Her mother Rosa Rodrigues worked as a maid, and when money became scarce, the athlete stopped going to the gym.
As with many top athletes, the gymnast was not spared injuries. In 2015, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee and thought about quitting. But her mother prevented the prodigy from distancing herself from competitions.
Rebeca overcame all difficulties and today shined brightly at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.