2024-08-02 05:55:02
CNN
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Eight-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles is unquestionably hard to beat but doing so is not impossible.
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade could be Biles’ biggest competition in Thursday’s all-around finals – and has gone head-to-head with the American before. In Biles’ Netflix documentary, which premiered last month, the US star said that Andrade “scares” her the most out of all her competitors.
At the World Championships last year, Andrade took gold in the vault, while Biles took silver. This victory made Andrade the first athlete to surpass Biles on the vault in that competition since 2015. Andrade also won the world all-around gold medal in 2022.
But the Brazilian gymnast’s trajectory to success wasn’t smooth sailing. After dealing with what can be career-ending injuries to gymnasts (ACL tears in 2015, 2017 and 2019) and going through three knee surgeries, she has shown grit in the face of adversity.
She became the first South American to step onto the all-around podium, earning a silver medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. She finished second to Team USA’s Sunisa Lee, but four days later, she won gold on vault over American MyKayla Skinner.
Andrade, a São Paulo native, grew up with seven siblings and started gymnastics training at age 5 after her aunt took her to training sessions at the gymnasium where she worked.
She comes from humble beginnings – her mother, Rosa, cleaned houses to support her family and to pay for Andrade’s training. In 2009, Andrade moved to Curitiba before taking her talents to Flamengo’s club in Rio just a year later. Now, she’s an Olympic and world champion, and perhaps a women’s individual all-around final winner in this summer’s Olympics.
One area where Andrade could potentially outshine Biles is on the uneven bars. While the American tends to execute well on the apparatus, performing a difficult routine, Andrade has a better swing and can outscore her with the judges.
She won the gold.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3746″ width=”5793″/>
Andrade won the silver for the second straight Olympics.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
lost in the quarterfinals on August 1. Murray, a three-time grand slam winner, is retiring from the sport.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
won her second gold medal of these Games with an Olympic-record time of 2:03.03.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2001″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
defeating Poland’s Iga Świątek, the world’s top-ranked tennis player and a dominant force on clay, in the Olympic semifinals on August 1. Qinwen, the No. 6 seed, won in straight sets: 6-2, 7-5.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”4000″ width=”6000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Kotsoiev would go on to win the gold. Toroboyev won the bronze.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2895″ width=”4343″ loading=’lazy’/>
which she won on August 1.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”4410″ width=”6615″ loading=’lazy’/>
crushed the rest of the field in her signature event, breaking her own Olympic record in the process. She finished in 15:30.02, a full 10 seconds faster than her closest competitor.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1930″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Oka went on to win the gold. Japanese men have now won the individual all-around in four straight Olympics. Daiki Hashimoto won three years ago in Tokyo, and Kohei Uchimura won in 2016 and 2012.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1667″ width=”2500″ loading=’lazy’/>
were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the United States’ Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram on July 31. Nadal’s future in tennis is uncertain as injuries continue to plague him.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1667″ width=”2500″ loading=’lazy’/>
Water quality concerns had postponed the men’s triathlon by a day, but it was held on the same day as the women’s.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”4333″ width=”6500″ loading=’lazy’/>
receiving a red card during a match against Spain on July 31. She was sent off for a reckless and dangerous challenge on Olga Carmona. Marta, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, has said she’s retiring from international play following this tournament, so the red card could mark an ignominious end to her glittering national team career.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2800″ width=”4200″ loading=’lazy’/>
Marchand won the event and then came back to the pool later in the night to win gold in the 200-meter breaststroke. He set Olympic records in both.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1667″ width=”2500″ loading=’lazy’/>
takes a selfie on the medal podium with his mixed-doubles partner, Shin Yu-bin, and teams from China and North Korea on Tuesday, July 30. Lim and Shin won bronze. On the left is the North Korean team of Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong, who won the silver. At center is the Chinese team of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, who won the gold.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1334″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
dominated the field to win the gold. It was a bit of redemption for Biles, who surpassed Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals by an American gymnast (eight). Biles withdrew from the team competition three years ago after a shocking case of the “twisties,” a mental block where gymnasts lose track of their positioning midair.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1619″ width=”2500″ loading=’lazy’/>
advanced to the quarterfinals with a dramatic win over Belgium’s Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen on July 30. Murray and Evans won 6-3, 6-7, 11-9. Murray has said this tournament will be the last of his legendary career.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3285″ width=”4926″ loading=’lazy’/>
stunning comeback to defeat Australia and win bronze in rugby sevens on July 30. It is the the United States’ first-ever Olympic medal in the sport — for either men or women.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3054″ width=”4476″ loading=’lazy’/>
Vekić went on to win 7-6, 6-2.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1333″ width=”2000″ loading=’lazy’/>
a near-perfect 9.90-scoring wave on Monday, July 29. It was the highest-scoring wave in Olympic history.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1994″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
some costly mistakes on the horizontal bar dropped it to second place. The United States won the bronze.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3978″ width=”5671″ loading=’lazy’/>
Team USA won 102-76 in what was a rematch of the gold-medal game three years ago. The United States has won 56 consecutive Olympic games.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”4011″ width=”6016″ loading=’lazy’/>
to win the 200-meter freestyle on July 29. O’Callaghan finished in 1:53.27, topping Titmus’ Olympic record from three years ago. Titmus won the silver.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3937″ width=”5906″ loading=’lazy’/>
winning her bronze-medal sabre bout on July 29. It’s her country’s first medal of the Paris Olympics.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3513″ width=”5606″ loading=’lazy’/>
epic showdown, winning 6-1, 6-4.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3314″ width=”5024″ loading=’lazy’/>
winning the street competition on July 29. Horigome also won the event at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3422″ width=”5134″ loading=’lazy’/>
recorded the highest score in every round to win the gold medal.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2347″ width=”3521″ loading=’lazy’/>
finish 1-2 in the 100-meter butterfly on July 28.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
They fought off five match points to win 2-6, 7-6, 11-9. Murray has said he will retire after the Games.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1955″ width=”2590″ loading=’lazy’/>
the Americans’ 4-1 victory on July 28.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Kiefer overwhelmed Scruggs 15-6 to win the event for the second straight Olympics.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
came back from a 5-2 deficit to win 6-5 in their soccer match on July 28.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
She landed awkwardly while warming up for her floor routine, but she fought through the pain to post an impressive all-around score.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
NBC’s commentary crew deemed him “Bob the Cap Catcher.” The lifeguard declined to release his name, a Paris 2024 spokesperson said, so that he could keep the focus on his duties.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
historic victory in its first-ever Olympic men’s game, winning 90-79.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”3364″ width=”5047″ loading=’lazy’/>
Other celebrities watching included Snoop Dogg and Ariana Grande.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1668″ width=”2258″ loading=’lazy’/>
set an Olympic record with a time of 3:28:92.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
taking place in Tahiti, far away from Paris.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1897″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
The dream pairing beat Argentina’s Máximo González and Andrés Molteni 7-6, 6-4.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2024″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
the United States’ first gold medal of the Paris Olympics. The result also continued Dressel’s streak of winning gold in every Olympic race in which he’s competed. He won five gold medals in Tokyo.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
winning the 400-meter freestyle on July 27.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
its first gold medal of these Games.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
France won 78-66.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”5232″ width=”7847″ loading=’lazy’/>
set a new Olympic record in the 100-meter butterfly during a semifinal race on July 27. She finished in 55.38 seconds.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1889″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
They won the first gold medal of the Paris Olympics.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2007″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
the United States’ first medal of this year’s Games. The gold went to China’s Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1961″ width=”2943″ loading=’lazy’/>
is the cavernous home to all the fencing competitions at the Paris Olympics.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Olympic cauldron rise in a hot-air balloon after they lit it at the end of the opening ceremony in Paris on Friday, July 26. The first hot-air balloon flight was performed in France in 1783.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”4996″ width=”7126″ loading=’lazy’/>
performs Edith Piaf’s “Hymne À L’Amour,” one of the French singer’s most well-known songs, on the Eiffel Tower at the end of the opening ceremony. It was her first performance since her diagnosis with stiff person syndrome.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1259″ width=”2216″ loading=’lazy’/>
depicted scenes from the French Revolution. Here, smoke billows near windows at the Conciergerie, the site where Marie Antoinette, the last French queen prior to the revolution, was imprisoned.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”4203″ width=”6305″ loading=’lazy’/>
the bells of Notre Dame rang for the first time since the iconic cathedral was gutted by fire in 2019. It is 90% restored.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”5123″ width=”7686″ loading=’lazy’/>
France’s high-speed train lines were targeted by several “malicious” acts, including arson, in what has been described as “coordinated sabotage” to disrupt travel ahead of the Games.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”4000″ width=”6000″ loading=’lazy’/>
Simone Biles trains on Thursday, July 25. Biles is looking to regain the individual all-around title she won in the 2016 Olympics.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2170″ width=”3281″ loading=’lazy’/>
She shot a world and Olympic record 694 in the individual ranking round.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″ loading=’lazy’/>
is hosting the Olympic surfing competition.” class=”image__dam-img image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”2000″ width=”3000″/>
The best photos of the Paris Olympics
Meanwhile, the balance beam is a wild card: both gymnasts perform well, but Andrade would have to increase the difficulty in her routine to outperform Biles. This apparatus can make a difference between who wins gold and who wins silver.
On the floor routine, Biles’ difficulty gives her a significant advantage. Yet, considering that “artistry” is now counting as part of the score, Andrade’s fascinating dance skills can be her ace up the sleeve. Overall, Biles is favored on the floor unless Andrade upgrades her routine.
In the vault, Biles has the most difficult maneuver in women’s gymnastics, “the Biles II.” Yet, Andrade could perform her “secret vault,” the triple-twisting Yurchenko, which could get a vault named after her and take the competition to another height. Yet, as this is merely speculation, it’s hard to know whether she can pull off the move.
Regardless of who wins, one thing is for sure: Rebeca Andrade will fight for gold. In an interview, she made her message clear to her fans.
“They should wait for me to give 110%, regardless of what happens in the competition,” she said. “I will get there, give myself, body and soul, even with all the attention and expectations.”
