On Monday (5), São Paulo’s Rebeca Andrade won the gold medal on floor, achieving her fourth podium at the Paris Olympic Games. It was her sixth Olympic medal, making her the most decorated Brazilian athlete in the history of the event.
Rebeca scored 14.166 in her performance, surpassing favorite Simone Biles. The American – who previously missed the podium on beam, just like the Brazilian – scored 14.133, suffering two penalties for stepping out of the competition area. Still, she secured the silver. The podium was completed by Jordan Chiles, also from the United States, with 13.766.
The Brazilian was the second to perform, to a mix of the songs “End of Time” by Beyoncé and “Movimento da Sanfoninha” by Anitta. She received 8.266 for her routine execution and an additional 5.900 for the difficulty score of her acrobatics. The coaching staff requested a review of the latter score, but it was unsuccessful. Rebeca’s total score (14.166) was better than her all-around score (14.033) and her qualifying round score (13.900), but lower than the score obtained in the team competition (14.200).
All eyes then turned to Biles. She presented the most complex routine of the final, with a difficulty score of 6.900. However, on two acrobatics, she stepped off the platform with both feet, which reduced her execution score (7.833) and resulted in a 0.6 penalty. Rebeca still had to wait for the performances of Romanian Sabrina Maneca-Voinea and Jordan Chiles to celebrate, emotionally, her victory on floor.
Off the Podium on Beam
Rebeca finished in fourth place on beam, which preceded the floor event. The São Paulo native scored 13.933 in her performance, just behind Italian Manila Esposito, who won bronze with 14.000. Despite some imbalances in her routine, the Brazilian did not fall from the apparatus.
The gold went to Italian Alice D’Amato, who scored 14.366, while Chinese Zhou Yaqin took silver with 14.100. American Simone Biles, a favorite for gold, fell at the end of her performance, which took her off the podium. With 13.100, she finished in fifth place. Brazilian Júlia Soares, in her first Olympic final, placed seventh with 12.333.
Source: Agência Brasil