A changed approach

Her determination – and yes, fight – has paid off, as she’s battled back from ACL tears in 2015, 2017 and 2019 that would have given her an easy excuse to leave the sport.

She didn’t.

Determined to see her talent shine, Andrade retooled her approach to training and competition – where she often sits out vault and floor exercise – with the complete trust of her coach, Francisco Porath.

“I have complete freedom to talk to Chico [Porath] and he knows that 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,” explained Andrade of her approach. “This is very important to me. This exchange that we have, this trust that we have in each other – and also, the physical part, the physical trainer, the multidisciplinary part also with physiotherapy, massage therapy, psychologist [is important].

“I think that the combination of all these things makes me feel good and prepared, even after all the surgeries, even after long days of competition, of coming and talking like this, ‘everything will work out. I’m fine, I can do it,’” she continued. “Even though I’m extremely physically or, sometimes, mentally tired, you know? I think the preparation that we do daily inside the gym helps. It prepares me to be here.”