Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade clinched the gold medal in the women’s vault final at the 2026 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships held on October 24 in Rotterdam. Andrade’s victory marked her third world title on vault, tying the record held by legendary Chinese gymnast Cheng Fei for the most golds in this event in women’s gymnastics history. The 27-year-old Andrade has now amassed a total of ten world championship medals, solidifying her status as the most decorated Brazilian gymnast ever.

Despite performing two downgraded vaults compared to her Olympic routines, Andrade’s exceptional execution landed her the top spot on the podium. Her average execution score of 9.3665 outshone competitors, including silver medalist Claire Pease and bronze medalist Skye Blakely, both American gymnasts. Pease, 17, earned her first individual world championship medal with a standout performance on the vault, while Blakely, who recently claimed the world all-around title, added to her medal count with a bronze on vault.

Andrade’s path to this achievement included a recovery period following the 2024 Paris Olympics when she took the entire 2025 competitive season off to recuperate. She made a strong comeback at the Pan American Championships in June 2026, capturing gold on vault and contributing to Brazil’s team silver medal. Her ability to deliver gold-winning performances even after scaling back the difficulty of her vaults highlights her superior technique and composure under pressure.

The competition also saw notable performances from the American team. Pease’s silver medal further established her as a rising star, and she is poised to compete for another medal in the floor exercise final. Meanwhile, Skye Blakely’s consistent excellence could lead her to earn up to five medals from this championship, making her one of the standout gymnasts of the tournament. Overall, Andrade’s win not only adds to her personal legacy but also underscores the growing prominence of Brazilian gymnastics on the world stage.