The closing shot of the Olympic gymnastics competition saw two Americans willingly bow to their Brazilian competitor.
It was after the individual floor competition where Rebeca Andrade won the gold medal, with her American counterparts, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, took silver and bronze respectively.
Although there has been a ton of drama surrounding Chiles’ appeal and subsequent hand-back of her bronze medal, Andrade still looks back on her Olympic triumph fondly.
‘It was sensational, I think they understood that. It was also a moment, it was a very special and important moment for me,’ Andrade said.
‘And at the same time, for us, there were three black women representing so many things,’ Andrade continued. ‘It was so special, it was historic, had never happened, you know, so I don’t think it was bow just for me but for all the girls, women and all the people that fought so hard to show that it is possible, you know that it can happen, that we deserve to be there.’
Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles pose with Rebeca Andrade on the Olympic podium in Paris
Andrade has now thanked both for the gesture while calling the bronze-medal fiasco a ‘mess’
Biles has called Andrade the toughest competitor she has ever had, showing a massive sign of mutual respect.
‘You only know your story and what story you want to tell,’ Andrade added. ‘And the one we wanted to tell was that despite being opponents in the gym, there is no rivalry between us because we always support each other regardless of where we are.’
‘And I am really rooting for her (Simone), I was very happy that she came back after such a difficult period and time in Tokyo when she had to give up,’ Andrade stated.
Andrade is referring to Biles withdrawing from a few events at the Olympics three years ago because of the twisties, a condition where a gymnast cannot recognize where they are in the air during their challenging flips.
Of course, Andrade also could not stay silent on Chiles’ removal and Romainia’s Ana Barbosu receiving the bronze medal.
‘It’s a mess,’ Andrade said. ‘We don’t know what the end will be like but the girls asked for an appeal of note, so you can review everything that’s happening. But I really don’t know how the FIG will solve this.’
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