It’s a race against time for the veteran gymnast Rebeca Andrade! Eyeing the World Championship later this year, Andrade is on her arduous journey to complete recovery. Well, Andrade has outlined the probability of her participation in this year’s championship and the answer may not please fans. For the unversed, she already incurred 3x ACL injuries. Despite that setback, she went on to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Thus, her body took enough stress, and considering she’s now 25, a pause is what her body needs to rejuvenate.
Although Andrade needs a break for good reasons, fans have wondered how long her break may continue. They are well accustomed to Andrade’s repeated injuries and her strong comeback after every reconstructive surgery, but this time, they might have to wait longer than usual for her comeback. So what’s Andrade’s update about her comeback? And what does her plan entail?
Rebeca Andrade is no new to injuries but last year’s Olympic games might cost her a hefty price. She might have to miss out on this year’s World Championship. The strain she underwent till the Olympics can be career-threatening if not properly taken care of. This could also cost Andrade her brownie points against Simone Biles. Well, Biles is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, and her biggest rival is undoubtedly Andrade. The last few years have recorded their toe-to-toe rivalries. Moreover, the upcoming World Championship could have been the battleground for their next skirmish. Andrade cannot afford to miss this year’s World Championship considering she has 3 golds only compared to 23 golds with Biles. So what’s Andrade thinking?
“I sat down with Chico [Porath], we talked, and we understood that this first phase will be about taking care of my body, my muscle pains, the aches I was complaining about last year”, said Andrade during a media event in Rio last Tuesday. Last year’s Olympics was too big to miss, but it affected Andrade’s muscles hard. Hence, she will need time to recover.
Optimistic fans will be hopeful that she can make her presence known at the World Championship. “Right now, my focus is on recovering my body, getting rid of all the pain I have, and then we’ll see”, said Andrade revealing her immediate plan.
What’s ahead for Andrade?
Rebeca Andrade can still participate in the World Championship similar to what she had done at the Olympics but her career will be at stake. Her body has still not recovered well enough to take on the additional strain. Reportedly, Andrade is also considering not competing in floor exercise, which might offer a respite to her body and will be effective in career longevity. Nevertheless, she might not be able to attain her short-term objective: the 2025 World Championship. Will Rebeca Andrade be without competition this year?
Fans can still bet on her considering she has yet to confirm her participation in the World Championship. “I don’t know what will happen with Worlds; we need to train”, said Andrade, reflecting her willingness to go hard for the World Championship. This is the only ray of hope for the fans and now time will only answer if fans can witness her performance this year.
Time is ticking and with Andrade’s history of staging bigger comebacks each time, fans can be hopeful about this time as well. What do you think about Andrade’s chance of getting into the 2025 World Championship?
