Rebeca Andrade Wins Brazil’s First-Ever Gold in Women’s Gymnastics in Tokyo Games Vault Competition

2020 Tokyo Games

Rebeca Andrade has soared into the annals of Brazilian sports history yet again…

The 22-year-old Brazilian gymnast, who’d already made history by winning Brazil’s first female Olympic medal in gymnastics in the all-around competition, won the gold medal in the women’s vault competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Rebeca Andrade

Andrade put together a pair of soaring vaults to post an average of 15.083 to win the competition.

Andrade’s score held off Team USA‘s MyKayla Skinner, who averaged 14.916. South Korea’s Yeo Seojeong was the bronze medallist with 14.733.

Rebeca Andrade

Andrade’s gold is the first ever for Brazil in women’s gymnastics at the Summer Games. Arthur Zanetti is the only other Brazilian to win artistic gymnastics gold.

“I feel so overwhelmed, happy,” Andrade told Olympics.com after her win. “I’m feeling incredible.”

Rebeca Andrade

Andrade came to Tokyo looking strong, debuting a Cheng vault (round off on the board, half turn on the vaulting table, front one-and-a-half twist) during the qualifying rounds.

In Sunday’s apparatus final, Andrade brought back her difficult two-and-a-half twisting vault to win gold.

Andrade’s injuries kept her out of the 2019 World Championships. It was the first of a series of mishaps for Brazil, which, then, failed to qualify a full team to the Tokyo Games.

Andrade only secured her quota spot for the Olympic Games on June 6, after winning the all-around at the Pan Am Championships in Rio.

Rebeca Andrade

“First, thank you God!” Andrade said in a post on Instagram after punching her Olympic ticket. “Thank you all… thanks for all the positive energy, thanks for believing in me at all costs… I just have to thank you, really!!!”

Sunday, Andrade couldn’t believe her success.

“I don’t know… reaching the podium… I didn’t imagine that I would return doing all these vaults, improving my first vault,” she said. “It’s been a huge pride for me because I saw how much I’ve grown, I’ve matured, and it’s really good”

Zanetti Takes Home the Silver in the Men’s Rings Final at the 2016 Rio Games

2016 Rio Games

 

He may not be the “Lord of the Rings” this Olympics, but Arthur Zanetti still has plenty of reason to celebrate.

The 26-year-old Brazilian gymnast, who won his country’s first-ever gymnastics gold medal at the 2012 London Games, came within a few tenths of repeating as champion in the men’s rings final.

But he couldn’t compete with Greece’s Eleftherios Petrounias and his effortless-seeming holds and perfectly stuck landing.

Arthur Zanetti

Zanetti finished second, becoming the first Brazilian gymnast to win multiple Olympic medals. Petrounias took the gold, becoming the third Greek gymnast in Olympic history to win the still rings title.

Petrounias was the only gymnast in the rings final to hit the 16-point mark. In addition to his world title on rings from 2015, he is the 2016 European champion. Zanetti finished with a score of 15.766.

Arthur Zanetti

In third place was Denis Ablyazin of Russia with a score of 15.700.