Injuries can be devastating for an athlete’s career and Ondine Achampong is currently feeling the burn of the same. The British gymnast suffered heartbreak as she was compelled to withdraw from the European Championships recently. In a saddening update for Great Britain, the 20-year-old announced that she was suffering from a severe ACL tear. Reflecting further on her condition, the Brit stated that the injury was caused due to a bar dismount in Lilleshall, England. 

Such a severe injury is expected to take at least a year to heal completely. Thus, rendering her chances of competing in Paris void. Meanwhile, speaking of broken dreams, Rebeca Andrade, one of the greatest competitors of Simone Arianne Biles also suffered a similar fate. Not once, but thrice! 

Rebeca Andrade’s cursed Olympic fate

Rebeca Andrade was a Brazilian gymnast, who won the World Championships thrice. She came up with one of the most superior displays in Tokyo to walk away with gold. Andrade also won the all-around silver medal, thus becoming the first Brazilian to win an Olympic medal. However, as sweet as the victory might taste, Andrade was almost forced to retire from the sport courtesy of her injuries. 

Getting her dreams shattered thrice, Rebeca Andrade tore her ACL in 2015, 2017, and 2019. After her last injury, most people counted her out of the equation. But Andrade refused to give up. With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the Olympics by a year, the opportunity fell right into Andrade’s lap. She began a very dedicated and rigorous training to qualify for Tokyo. 

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Reminiscing about the same, the Brazilian said, “I have complete freedom to talk to Chico [Francisco Porath]… when I’m in pain, I tell him that, ‘Today, it is very difficult. Is it okay for us to hold off on that workout, to do a lighter workout?’ because he knows that the next day I’m going to arrive at the gym and I’m going to do my best.”  To everyone’s surprise, not only did Rebecca come back, but she emerged as a staunch opponent of the US gymnastics queen Simone Biles.

Simone Biles vs. Rebeca Andrade: A rivalry for the ages

After coming back from the injury, Andrade shocked the world as she won the World Championship on the vault at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. And guess what? She triumphed over none other than Simone Biles! She then further ignited a rivalry with Biles after Andrade clinched gold on vault at the Pan American Championship. 

Competing in the Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2023, both Biles and Andrade secured top 3 finishes. But this time, it was Simone Biles who won gold while the Brazilian had to be content with the silver. Soon after her crowning, Biles placed her crown on Andrade’s head, making the crowd go emotional. By doing so, Simone Biles also acknowledged the greatness of her opponent and subtly hinted at the passing of the torch.