Watch: Rebeca Andrade Trains Vault Skills Ahead of Pan American Championship
Aug 1, 2024; Paris, France; Rebeca Andrade of Brazil celebrates her silver medal in the womens gymnastics all-around during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Bercy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2024; Paris, France; Rebeca Andrade of Brazil celebrates her silver medal in the womens gymnastics all-around during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Bercy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports
The venue is set, schedules are out and gymnastics icon Rebeca Andrade’s latest move proved that she is more than ready to take the mats in the 2026 Pan American Championship.
The 27-year-old is finally returning to the competitive realm after her gold-winning performance at the 2024 Paris Games. And a latest practice video showed that Andrade will be heading to Rio in a powerful form.
“Rebeca Andrade, working a double-twisting Yurchenko and Lopez during Pan Am podium training,” Gymnastics Now posted on X on June 16. The video showcased Andrade’s powerful jumps and elite form even at the age of 27.
In the video, she may have missed a flawless landing after the jumps. But for an elite gymnast who has taken a break for a whole year, Andrade’s form proved why she’s the most decorated Brazilian Olympian with 6 Olympic medals.
In the 2026 Pan Am, Andrade will only compete on the Vault. In her career, she has won 4 gold and one silver medal on this apparatus across the Olympics, Worlds and Pan Am Games. And this meet will serve as the qualifier for the 2026 Worlds, set for October in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
But the Brazilian icon will be entering this competition with a bigger goal in her mind, which goes beyond the 2026 Worlds.
Rebeca Andrade Is Eyeing the LA28
The best part about being an athlete is the competitive spirit, and that is the reason why Andrade is eyeing her 4th Olympic appearance, at the 2028 LA Games. However, that return will be on her own terms.
“I really want to contribute to qualify our team to LA28,” she told Olympic.com exclusively in early February. “I really want to compete again. It’s every athlete’s favourite part of the whole process, right? But I can’t rush things or get ahead of myself. I have to respect the process, my body…”
In fact, the 27-year-old is happy with how tranquil things have been. While she’s always excited for the next, balancing her mind and body remains her top priority.
And with this approach, Andrade will first try to reach the podium at Rio, then the Worlds at Rotterdam, to finally clinch a ticket to LA. Slowly but steadily.
Are you excited for her return? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy