Rebeca Andrade puts on a show and qualifies for the Olympics
Rubro-negra wins the Rio Pan American Games and joins Flavia Saraiva in Tokyo
By Flamengo Communication - inThe biggest name on the Brazilian women's team at the Rio Pan American Games, Flamengo's Rebeca Andrade put on a show, winning the gold medal in the individual all-around and securing her spot in the Tokyo Olympics. Andrade will represent Brazilian women's artistic gymnastics alongside Flavia Saraiva, who had already qualified.
Rebeca was the top gymnast in the competition, held at Arena Carioca 1 in Rio de Janeiro. The 22-year-old athlete topped all equipment, finishing with a total of 56.700 points.
Brazil began its participation on vault. Rebeca Andrade achieved the highest score of the day among all participants, with a 14.800. On the uneven bars, the Flamengo gymnast once again achieved her best result of the day, with a 14.400, and opened up a further lead in the competition.
On the balance beam, Rebecca Andrade had her lowest score of the day. Despite a series of strong movements, the gymnast suffered two slips and finished her run with a 13.800, remaining in the overall lead and getting ever closer to an Olympic spot. Concluding her performance on the floor, Rebeca performed to "Baile de Favela" and finished her Pan American artistic gymnastics competition with a 56.700.
"I'm very happy, I won't deny it. I hadn't competed in a long time, and it's great to be back, especially at home. We held our own, and that's it. My mindset is always the same: the Pan American Games were my Olympics. Thank God I managed to stay calm, and that was very important. I love vaulting, I love doing the vault. Parallel is my favorite, and I really like the floor, because of everything it involves," Rebeca commented after the competition.
"I thought about one element after another. I focused first on the vault, then on the parallel bars, and forgot about the rest. Then I focused on the beam and finished with the floor exercise. Everyone who works with me always made it clear to me that I had to come and do my gymnastics, without pressure," said Rebeca.
"I thank everyone who supported me, Chico, my coach, who understands all my limitations, my multidisciplinary team, my club that never gave up on me. In short, there are so many people to thank, and now I can only say that I am very, very, very happy. It's a happiness that can't be contained," she concluded, quite emotional.
The other red-black in the competition, Lorrane Oliveira finished in fourth place overall.