Every story has two sides, right? Take Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade, for example. We all saw that moment in the Paris Olympics when Simone bowed to Rebeca, but there’s also what Simone said: “I don’t want to compete with Rebeca anymore! I am tired.” It makes you wonder what’s really going on between these two outstanding gymnasts. So, what’s the real story? Let’s delve into their rivalry with insights from Katie Walsh, who has been closely observing the situation.
The second part of “Simone Biles Rising,” which was broadcast towards the end of October, showed a glimpse behind the scenes of Simone’s journey to clinching three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The documentary also offered a sneak peek into the story of Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, who secured a gold medal in floor exercises and has developed a friendship with Simone. Katie Walsh is a director with multiple Emmy Awards under her belt and was involved in the production of a Netflix documentary set in Paris. She recently discussed with VEJA magazine the competition between Simone and Rebeca which brought new depth to the story.
When Katie Walsh was asked about the relationship between the Biles and Rebeca, she expressed, “Simone and Rebeca Andrade are incredible athletes and wonderful human beings.” It’s clear that both Simone and Rebeca have left an impression through their achievements well as their camaraderie and mutual respect.
Rebeca’s rise started back at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she took on a role after Simone Biles had to withdraw from much of the competition due to twisties. But since then, Andrade’s journey hasn’t been easy either. She encountered challenges by tearing her ACL three times from 2015 to 2019. Each setback could’ve marked the end of her gymnastics career, but instead, she fueled her determination to make a comeback. Following her ACL injury experience, she expressed, “Each time I overcame something tough, I was more determined to come back; I wanted to win even more.” Despite everything, Rebeca showed up with confidence in Paris.
Katie highlighted how special their bond is, saying, “Rebeca is very elegant and confident, and I know that Simone respects her and admires her gymnastics a lot. You can see their relationship in the gym, hugging, congratulating, and supporting each other. It is a healthy rivalry, as they both become better athletes because of each other, always striving to be their best. I know they respect each other a lot; it is great to see.”
This friendly competition has given fans a real treat to watch! Rebeca’s impressive performance in Tokyo, where she snagged a silver medal in the all-around and gold in the vault, made history as Brazil’s first-ever Olympic champion in women’s gymnastics. However, when Andrade was on the verge of giving up gymnastics, it was Simone Biles who encouraged her not to walk away from the sport.
Simone Biles holds a deep admiration for Rebeca Andrade and openly shared thoughts about her in her latest Netflix documentary. Biles shared that Andrade “scares me the most” out of all her competitors. But the real battle of them was seen in the 2023 World Championships. There, both athletes clinched medals in five events each, a feat that showcased their skills in the sport. Biles expressed how it fuels them to bring out their best performances: “I actually love competing with Rebeca. She does push me; she makes me want to stick all my landings,” Biles said, labeling Andrade a “phenomenal gymnast.” Their close friendship was evident when Biles playfully pretended to crown Andrade during a camera moment in the Paris Olympics.
Andrade has overcome her challenges, including recovering from three torn ACL injuries. She has expressed her emotions about competing with Biles in a heartfelt manner. “I’ve grown such affection for her,” Andrade always emphasizes the connection they have as both competitors and friends. Their rivalry was particularly evident when Andrade outperformed Biles in the vault finals at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships. There, she became the first person to surpass Biles in the vault at Worlds since 2015.
When it comes to their competitions against each other, the excitement is truly palpable! Biles has managed to win most of their duels and even triumphed over Andrade in their last face-off at the 2016 Olympics event. Nonetheless, Andrade’s impressive performance at the 2023 Championships indicated that she is a rival, coming in behind Biles in the overall score tally. Following Biles’s victory in the event at the Paris Olympics, Biles jokingly remarked, “I don’t want to compete with Rebeca no more. I’m tired. Like, she’s way too close.” This statement captures the mix of competition and camaraderie that shapes their relationship—every challenge they face not only tests them but also tightens the connection they have!
