"Treated like robots" - Recalling Simone Biles' Tokyo Olympics withdrawal, Rebeca Andrade highlights shift in attitude toward athletes' mental health

Recalling Simone Biles' withdrawal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Rebeca Andrade has highlighted a shift in attitude toward athletes' mental health. Both athletes competed at the Paris Olympics and clinched four medals each.

At the Tokyo Games, Biles withdrew from competing in the final round of the vault after experiencing 'twisties', a phenomenon in which the gymnast loses the sync between the body and mind while performing a maneuver mid-air. The American legend's withdrawal served as a catalyst for re-evaluating the treatment and care of gymnasts.

In an interview with Vogue, the Brazilian gymnast highlighted the past treatments of gymnasts, who were often exposed to attitudes pressuring them to suppress their emotions and focus solely on performance, as per the Olympian, such as the demanding approach of Marta Karolyi. Further, she emphasized a shift when athletes began to be heard and their physical and mental health was prioritized over medals.

"For many years, gymnasts from other generations were treated like robots, they couldn't cry in pain or vent about a family problem: it was just gymnastics, gymnastics, gymnastics," Andrade said.

"From the moment we started to be heard, and when they understood that it’s no use just looking good on the outside, that we need to feel safe in our family and sports environment, changes happened, and it became clear that things can be done differently and in healthier ways. Our results on the stage today are a consequence of this."

Andrade secured a gold and a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games in the vault and all-around event, respectively.

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Rebeca Andrade became Brazil's most decorated Olympian with her victorious streak at Paris 2024

Rebeca Andrade of Team Brazil celebrates winning the Gold Medal in the Women's Floor Exercise Final at the Olympic Games 2024 at Bercy Arena in Paris, France | Getty Images

Three summers after Tokyo at the Olympic Games in the French capital, Rebeca Andrade clinched a gold medal in the floor event, surpassing her strongest rival Simone Biles. While the American favorite collected a total of 14.166 points, Andrade posted a stunning 14.133 points. She then earned two silver medals in the all-around and vault events by following Biles.

Moreover, Andrade also bagged a bronze medal in the team event along with Jade Barbosa, Loranne Oliveira, Saraiva Flavia, and Julia Soares.

With her four-medals successful campaign at the Paris Games, Andrade became the most decorated Brazilian Olympian of all time, surpassing sailors Robert Scheidt and Torben Grael, each of them with five Olympic medals.