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.

Even before making history atop the first all-Black women’s gymnastics podium in Paris, Andrade was immortalized as a unique, one-of-a-kind doll created just for her (which, unfortunately, wasn’t for sale). This moment served as yet another reminder of how far the Brazilian gymnast has come in her remarkable journey. “I’m very happy and honored to become a real Barbie today!” she said.

Financial struggles, leaving home when she was 10, or 3 ACL injuries. Nothing could’ve stopped the 25-year-old from becoming one of the most inspiring athletes in the world, especially for budding gymnasts in Brazil. On the day after Andrade won the Olympic gold in the floor exercise – narrowly defeating Simone Biles – 14-year-old trainee Manuela Kriegel said while looking at a mural of Andrade at the Bonifácio Cardoso gym: “This is outdated now.”

The painting featured the gymnast with a gold and a silver medal from the Tokyo Games, and this year, Rebeca Andrade added 4 more to her tally, making her the most decorated Olympian in Brazilian history. Back in 2019, Kriegel came close to quitting, but watching Andrade succeed in Tokyo revitalized the youngster. “It is what Rebeca says. We have to trust the work we do here every day, get our training right, and become confident in what we do when we are doing it,” said Kriegel. “Before her, it wasn’t possible. And now, it is much beyond what we expected.”

Throughout her stellar career, Rebeca Andrade has defied the odds and uplifted her family while also enriching Brazilian gymnastics. Despite seemingly insurmountable challenges, the two-time Olympic gold medalist persevered. And in the spirit of that, Mattel chose to immortalize her in a special edition Barbie, a tribute to her remarkable journey — much like the stories of the other athletes honored alongside her.

The eight icons who joined Rebeca Andrade

“Throughout my career, I’ve always been driven by the idea of shattering glass ceilings and staying true to myself… Barbie’s mission couldn’t resonate more deeply with that ethos,” four-time Olympic gold medalist Venus Williams said after receiving her Barbie. Just like the first woman to earn equal pay in Wimbledon, the others Mattel honored with a one-of-a-kind Barbie became pioneers in their own right.

Canadian soccer player Christine Sinclair elevated women’s soccer to new heights, scoring an astounding 190 career international goals. Meanwhile, Australian soccer star Mary Fowler made history as the youngest player to represent her nation and, at just 21, had already competed in two FIFA World Cups. Alongside Rebeca Andrade, gymnast Alexa Moreno also earned a spot on this prestigious list, further showcasing the incredible achievements of women in sports.

The Mexican gymnast was her nation’s first female gymnast to earn a world championship medal. Mattel also honored Frech boxer (and Rio 2016 champion) Estelle Mossely and swimmer Federica Pellegrini. The Italian swimmer was the first woman to break the 4-minute barrier in the 400m freestyle, paving the way for champions like Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus.

Mattel immortalized Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda, too. Owing to her determination and fearlessness, she’s a 3-time European Indoor Championship medalist and a World Indoor Championship medalist, holding the world lead of 7.01 seconds in the 60m race. Finally, Paralympic triathlon athlete Susana Rodriguez rounded out the list of nine female sports icons. The 36-year-old Olympic and five-time world champion has not only shattered barriers in her sport but also served as a frontline doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s clear why Mattel chose to honor athletes like Rebeca Andrade, celebrating their remarkable contributions to elevating women’s sports to new heights.