"I thought this year I would end my gymnastics career but it looks like I have other plans" - Rebeca Andrade on her retirement after Paris Olympics

Brazilian gymnastics star Rebeca Andrade has disclosed her intentions to continue competing, noting that she has plans and goals to pursue. During the Paris Olympics, she had said that it would be her final all-around competition.

Andrade had a phenomenal Paris Olympics this year in July and August, where she won four medals, taking her total Olympic medal count to six. The 25-year-old won two silver medals in the individual all-around and vault events, helped her team earn a bronze in the team all-around, and won a gold in the floor exercise apparatus after besting American phenom Simone Biles.

Following her individual all-around silver on August 1, Andrade stated that it was her last all-around performance due to the physical toll it takes on her body. However, she also noted at the time that her future was in God's hands.

"Doing the all-around, to me, it demands a lot from my body, my lower limbs, legs, knees. But I said that the future belongs to God: What if I something comes up in my head [or] my body gets better? I don’t know. But I have worked this in my head and I wanted tonight to be a very special competition because, to me, that was my last all-around," she said as quoted by Olympics.com.

Days after the statement, Rebeca Andrade provided a fresh update on her career recently in a retirement letter on Sunday, September 22, which she had written ahead of the Paris Olympics. In the letter, she remarked that while she initially thought this year would be her final gymnastics season, she still has goals to follow.

"I thought that this year I would come here to put an end to my Gymnastics career, but it looks like I have other goals and plans to follow. I'll be back soon!" she wrote in the letter.

Rebeca Andrade's Instagram Story

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A brief look at Rebeca Andrade's Gymnastics career

Rebeca Andrade at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Image via Getty)

During her first Olympic appearance in Tokyo, Rebeca Andrade made history by becoming the first female Brazilian gymnast to win an Olympic medal, a feat she achieved after winning silver in the individual all-around event. She then went on to win a gold in the vault apparatus as well.

Beyond her Olympic achievements, Andrade has also added nine World Championship medals (three gold, four silver, and two bronze) and four Pan-American Championships to her trophy cabinet. She was also honored with the Brasil Olimpico Award as Best Sportswoman of the Year and Best Gymnast of the Year in 2021 and 2022.