Rebecca Andrade of Brazil holds her country's flag after winning the gold medal in the women's vault apparatus final at the Olympics.
Rebeca Andrade made history for the country of Brazil at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Sunday. The 22-year-old came through to hold off all others on the vault apparatus final in gymnastics to win the gold medal. McKayla Skinner of Team USA stayed with the silver, and Yeo Seojeong of South Korea holding tightly behind for the bronze.
Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the vault final where she had the hardest and successful vault in the world changed everything. With her, not a threat, many gymnasts from around the world had the opportunity to score a gold medal on the apparatus. Skinner and Carey both came into the final with the specialist on the team earning her spot due to the qualification score
Skinner went first and got a 15.033 on her first attempt. Her second was 14.8 to get a 14.916 average score. Alexa Moreno of Mexico was second and averaged out to 14.716 which would hold up for a spot on the podium. Andrade from Brazil got a 15.083 that surpassed Skinner as she delivered on both vaults.
Carey took her moment and felt that something was wrong when she hit the vault table. She bailed out and kept the attempt easy for an 11.933. With her second being much more difficult, the American landed it but knew she was out of the running for an individual medal. Korean Seojeong got a 14.733 that put her into the third position but with the ROC still to come. Angelina Melnikova led her team but her two vaults didn’t threaten Andrade, Skinner, or Yeo. Liliia Akhaimova needed a high average of 14 but earned a 14.666 that secured medals for the three leaders, who after qualifications, never saw a chance at medaling.
It was the first individual gold medal for Brazil in gymnastics and possibly not the last with the superstar American pulling out of all but one of the finals left to compete.
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