Rebeca Andrade Returns to Competition at Pan American Gymnastics Championships

Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, the most decorated Olympic athlete in her country's history, has made her competitive return at the Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rio de Janeiro after nearly two years away from competition. Andrade's last competition was at the Paris Olympics in September 2024, followed by an extended sabbatical she described as "the best decision I made in my sport." Competing only in vault on June 17, 2026, she achieved the highest individual score of the evening with 14.533 on her first vault and 14.166 on her second, producing an average of 14.349 and advancing to the apparatus final scheduled for Sunday.

Andrade's return proved instrumental to Brazil's team success. The Brazilian women's artistic gymnastics team secured the silver medal with a combined score of 157.796, trailing the United States (161.628) and ahead of Canada (156.997). The achievement also secured Brazil's qualification for the World Championships in Rotterdam, the first competition in the cycle offering qualification opportunities for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The Brazilian men's team finished fourth and also qualified for the World Championships.

Andrade received an enthusiastic reception from the home crowd, who chanted her name as she entered the competition arena. In post-competition interviews, she expressed profound gratitude for her return and acknowledged the challenges of competing after an extended break. She emphasized that confidence and trust—rather than physical preparation—represented her primary focus, noting that her muscle memory remained strong but that regaining competitive certainty required mental fortitude. She credited her support system and spiritual preparation, stating she had asked everyone she knew to pray for her protection.

The championship has produced multiple Brazilian qualifiers for upcoming finals. In the women's competition, Thais Fidelis and Sophia Weisberg qualified for the individual all-around final, while additional Brazilian gymnasts advanced in apparatus-specific finals across bars, beam, floor, and vault. The men's team also sent representatives to individual and apparatus finals, with Diogo Soares and Vitaliy Guimarães qualifying for the all-around competition.

Andrade reflected on her evolution as an athlete, describing her 2024 season as "incredible" while acknowledging that the sabbatical provided necessary rest and perspective. She emphasized that returning to competition alongside younger teammates, combined with her accumulated experience, created a fulfilling environment. Her successful re-entry into elite competition marks the beginning of her preparation toward the 2028 Olympic cycle, with her vault final scheduled for June 21 at 9:30 AM.