Simone Biles’ rival, Rebeca Andrade, took the stage to carry the Olympic flag with 10 other honorees and expressed joy on receiving immense cheers and support from the crowd. Andrade was the only South American to earn such an honor at the marquee event in Milan.
Andrade has been taking a break from gymnastics but pinned hopes on making the Olympic team in Los Angeles 2028.
Simone Biles’ Rival Rebeca Andrade Gushes Over Immense Support During Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
Biles continues her gymnastics hiatus after the 2024 Paris Olympics, similar to Andrade. However, the latter made her return to the gym last year, and she is on and off practice. The Brazilian gymnast defied belief in the 2024 Paris Olympics, helping her team to its first medal and earning the individual floor gold, handing Biles her first loss in the event at the senior level.
Andrade was welcomed at the Cortina Olympics 2026, not as a participant, but as a flag-bearer in the opening ceremony. She was one of the 10 distinguished recipients of the honor and the only one from South America. She embraced the role not only as a standout gymnast but also as an athlete who supports women’s rights, education, and sustainability.
In a video posted by TV Globo, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was seen waving at the crowd as she walked with the Olympic flag. Her face glowed with the love she received from everyone present at the venue.
She also got overwhelmed in the comment section, expressing it with a teary-eyed and heart emoji.
In an interview, she shared that experiencing this while living would allow her to look back on the honorable moment in the future, unlike those who receive tributes after passing.
READ MORE: Simone Biles’ Rival Rebeca Andrade Makes Winter Olympics Return in Surprising New Role
Andrade put her nation on the gymnastics map when she won gold in the vault at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She continued to make waves and added five more medals to her Olympic tally. Recently, she was candidly asked about the sport she would have pursued at the Winter Games. Andrade said she would have been a figure skater, but she was born to be a gymnast.
She further acknowledged the complexity and grace of winter sports. She expressed greater interest because her own area of work was opposite to theirs. Andrade was Biles’ top competition at the 2023 World Championships, where the latter faltered in her signature Yurchenko Double Pike, and the Brazilian walked home with the win. The latter has nine World Championship medals on her Wall of Fame.
