Nickname
Rebeyonce [because of her admiration for US singer Beyonce]. (globoesporte.globo.com, 28 Sep 2018)
Occupation
Athlete
Spoken languages
English, Portuguese
Club
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo: Rio de Janeiro, BRA
Coach
Francisco Porath Neto [national]
Injuries
In 2019 she injured the anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] in her right knee during the Brazilian trials for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The injury forced her to undergo surgery to rebuild the ligament with a graft from her left knee. She also had her anterolateral ligament reconstructed. She was out of competition until March 2020. (globoesporte.globo.com, 09 Mar 2020, 19 Sep 2019; olimpiadatododia.com.br, 08 Jun 2019)
In October 2017 she injured the ACL in her right knee. She required surgery and was ruled out of the 2017 World Championships in Montreal, QC, Canada. She returned to competition in September 2018. (globoesporte.globo.com, 10 Sep 2018, 19 Oct 2017; cbginastica.com.br, 01 Oct 2017)
In May 2017 she injured her right ankle during training. She wore a protective boot for two months, and returned to competition in August 2017. (sportv.globo.com, 01 Sep 2017)
She ruptured the ACL in her right knee in June 2015 and was ruled out of competition for nine months. (esporte.ig.com.br, 25 Mar 2016)
A broken toe forced her to miss the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, People's Republic of China. (wogymnast.com, 06 Mar 2015)
Start sporting career
She took up the sport at age four in Guarulhos, Brazil.
Reason for taking up the sport
She joined a social programme that allowed children to practise gymnastics at the gym where her aunt used to work. "I was always active when I was a small child. So, my aunt took me to the gym where she worked and I began doing gymnastics. It was amazing. The gym looked like an amusement park. I think that if it weren't for that programme, they wouldn't have spotted my talent and I would have just been a girl playing on the street."
Milestones
She became the first female artistic gymnast representing Brazil to finish on the podium at the Olympic Games by claiming silver in the individual all-around at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Three days later she became the first female artistic gymnast to win gold when she claimed victory in vault. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Sep 2021; gymnastics.sport, 15 Aug 2021, 08 Aug 2021)
She became the first artistic gymnast representing Brazil to win a gold medal in the individual all-around event at the world championships when she was victorious at the 2022 edition of the tournament in Liverpool, England. (SportsDeskOnline, 17 Nov 2022; olympics.nbcsports.com, 03 Nov 2022)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (sescsp.org.br, 31 Mar 2023)
Trainings
She trains twice a day at the Brazilian Training Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning silver in the individual all-around and gold in vault at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, claiming silver on uneven bars at the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan, and securing gold in the individual all-around at the 2022 World Championships in Liverpool, England. (sescsp.org.br, 31 Mar 2023)
Hero / Idol
Brazilian gymnast Daiane dos Santos. (cob.org.br, 01 Jul 2016)
Most influential person in career
Her mother. (meulugar.quintoandar.com.br, 15 Mar 2022)
Philosophy / Motto
"Enjoy the little moments of joy in life, for one day you will look back and you will realise that those moments were what made a happy life." (cob.org.br, 01 Jul 2016)
Awards
In 2021 and 2022 she received the Brasil Olimpico Award as Best Sportswoman of the Year and Best Gymnast of the Year. In 2023 she was presented with the Inspire Award as the Most Inspiring Sportswoman of the Year in Brazil. (preventsenior.com.br, 03 Feb 2023; agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br, 07 Dec 2021)
She received the 2022 Sports Highlight of the Year Award from the Sao Paulo State Association of Sports Journalists in Brazil. (cbginastica.com.br, 19 Jan 2023)
She was flag bearer for Brazil at the closing ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (gymnastics.sport, 08 Aug 2021)
Additional information
DEALING WITH INJURIES
She has sustained a number of serious injures during her career, especially to her right knee, but she believes there have been benefits. "I became much more mature as a person and as an athlete. It's not that I'm thankful for being injured, but it was essential for me to grow up." (olimpiadatododia.com.br, 22 Apr 2020)
BEYONCE FAN
She performed her individual floor exercise at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro to a mix of songs from US artist Beyonce, and she has since become known as 'Rebeyonce' in Brazil. "Beyonce is incredible and so wonderful. I like her so much. She shines. I think that when I compete with that music I shine as well. That's why I like her. She obliterates everything. And when I'm doing my routine I want to obliterate the competition." (globoesporte.globo.com, 28 Sep 2018)
Last update : 2024-07-22
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