Remember that jaw-dropping moment at the Paris Olympics when Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to their fierce rival, Rebeca Andrade? Paris had its share of unforgettable scenes, but this one was something special! It came when Rebeca clinched gold on the floor exercise, with Simone right behind her with silver. And then there was another epic showdown between the two—a high-stakes battle for the all-around title, one of those edge-of-your-seat moments that had everyone holding their breath!
Rebeca, who had taken silver in Tokyo, returned to Paris determined to raise the bar, with routines so sharp they even had Simone feeling the heat. Simone even admitted in her Netflix documentary that she genuinely thought Rebeca might just slip in and grab the gold right from under her. But before diving into all that drama, Simone shared how much respect she has for Rebeca as a gymnast—calling her a true artist and fierce competitor on the world stage.
In a recent TikTok posted by Netflix Brazil, Simone Biles opened up about her admiration for Rebeca Andrade. For Simone, every time they compete against each other, it’s not just about the medals—it’s “such a special moment” because they both bring their A-game and incredible talent to the floor. She highlighted Rebeca’s amazing qualities, calling her “very powerful, very elegant, very clean,” and added that she’s truly “a beautiful gymnast to watch.” You can tell Simone really appreciates Rebeca’s artistry and skill, and it’s clear they both light up the arena when they perform.
But Simone didn’t stop there! She shared how proud she is of all that Rebeca has accomplished, celebrating her journey and the hard work behind it. “You have overcome so much,” she said, recognizing the challenges Rebeca faced to get to this point. With genuine warmth, Simone wished her good luck for the future, cheering her on not just as a competitor but as a friend, rooting for her every step of the way.
Rebeca’s journey hasn’t been easy, right? Growing up in a humble family with her mother as a maid, she faced significant economic challenges. Thankfully, she had the unwavering support of her siblings, especially Emerson, who drove her to training every day and sometimes, family issues forced her to pause practice, and her coaches had to step in to help.
At just nine, Rebeca’s coach invited her to move to Curitiba, the heart of gymnastics excellence and despite criticism, her mother, Rosa, believed in her dreams. Four years later, Rebeca became a Brazilian champion and earned her first World Cup medal. But coming back to how did Simone feel about Rebeca’s fierce talent at the Paris Olympics?
Simone Biles fears Rebeca Andrade
In the fourth episode of Netflix’s Simone Biles Rising Season 2, Simone Biles’ nervousness was on full display during the all-around competition as she recognized the formidable challenge posed by her long-time rival, Rebeca Andrade. The anxiety peaked when it was time for Simone to tackle the vault event. Rebeca executed a stunning Cheng vault, nearly nailing the landing before gracefully saluting the judges. The crowd erupted, and Simone couldn’t help but marvel at what she had just witnessed—“unreal” was an understatement!
With awe in Simone’s voice, she admitted, “Once she stuck that, I was like, ‘Oh, you gotta be kidding me. She’s not human.’” Rebeca’s score of 15.1 was a jaw-dropper, leading the vault category by a wide margin, with Suni Lee trailing far behind at 13.933 points. But when it was Simone’s turn, the nerves melted away. Despite her earlier jitters, she launched into her now-retired Yurchenko double pike with a spectacular leap, landing cleanly and confidently.
This performance earned Simone an impressive 15.766 points, catapulting her to the top of the leaderboard and setting the tone for an unforgettable evening. Ultimately, Simone claimed the gold medal, outpacing Rebeca, who gracefully accepted her silver. So, while Simone Biles may have feared Rebeca’s prowess, she walked away with the gold as if it were all just another day at the gym!
