Overcoming Poverty, Rebeca Andrade Was Honored by $6.5 Million Worth Company Even Before Paris Olympics

Immortality. It’s not what athletes strive for, but it’s what they achieve on the path to becoming legends. And Rebeca Andrade’s story is nothing short of legendary, destined for immortality – both metaphorically and physically.

“The hardest part was the financial aspect.” Born in Guarulhos, São Paulo, Rebeca Andrade faced overwhelming odds from the moment she entered the world as one of eight children to her mother, Rosa, a single parent. “Mom would borrow money so we’d have food. And as there wasn’t money left, we couldn’t buy other things. All the clothes I had came from people I knew,” the gymnast told CGTN America.

But Rosa Andrade realized early on that her daughter was destined for greatness. And she did everything she could to support and nurture her child’s natural talent. “My mother walked to work so that I could use her bus pass to go to the gym with my brother, so I am very grateful to her and my sibling who made my dream possible.” There were times when the six-time Olympic gymnast had to walk two hours to reach her gym. But after all the hard work and sacrifice started to reap the rewards, Rebeca Andrade understood one thing.

“Regardless of where you come from, your financial situation, or your color, you have to believe in yourself and not let anyone stop you from achieving your goals.” If you think about it, this is similar to the message of another role model that many have looked up to: Barbie.

For decades, the Mattel doll has represented female independence and choice and has encouraged girls to dream big and pursue careers that defy limitations. And for everyone who looks up to Rebeca Andrade, the gymnast is nothing short of a real-life Barbie. So, even before the Brazilian etched her name in the annals of gymnastics at the Paris Olympics, Mattel immortalized her in the form of a Barbie doll.

In a stroke of pure coincidence, Barbie celebrated her 65th anniversary ahead of the Olympics on March 9. To commemorate the anniversary, Mattel, a company worth $6.5 billion, celebrated 9 trailblazing women in sports. Among them was Rebeca Andrade, who joined legends like Venus Williams. Continuing the celebration into May, Mattel recognized “the impact of sports in fostering self-confidence, ambition, and empowerment among the next generation” by creating special dolls in the likeness of the nine athletes.