Tag: olympics

Gold Medal Gymnast Rebeca Andrade Gives Us a Peek at Her Spotify

October 17, 2024

Rebeca Andrade knows her way around the gym floor . . . and vault, and uneven bars, and balance beam. The 25-year-old is the most decorated Latin American gymnast of all time—and the most decorated Brazilian Olympian. During this year’s Summer Games in Paris, the superstar brought home four medals, including a gold for her floor exercise.

Whether she’s practicing on the beam or hyping herself up before competition, music plays a pivotal role in the athlete’s routine. Now, as a part of our My Spotify campaign, the gymnastic champion is sharing some of the artists, genres, and creators she loves.

How do you get into the right mindset before a competition? 

While I put on makeup and get ready, I like to play upbeat music, like funk, for example, for a lively vibe. From the moment I get on the bus to compete, I listen to gospel because it calms me and helps me focus.

Do you have a favorite genre to practice or perform to?

During training, we play a lot of music in the gym. It’s usually Brazilian pop and American pop. 

What keeps you going on days when your energy is low? 

On days when I’m feeling down, I listen to music that reflects that mood and I allow myself to feel it. But afterwards, I try to change the mood by playing more upbeat music. That helps raise my energy back up.

How do you use music to reflect and celebrate your identity and culture?

I love music and I think each song or genre has a meaning that reflects and celebrates our culture and identity. I listen to a lot of new Brazilian artists and I make a point of sharing the songs I like with everyone. I’m always discovering new artists—there are so many good ones in Brazil!

What artist are you listening to at the moment? 

Oh, it’s always very random. But at the moment I’m playing Liniker a lot!

Go for the Gold This Summer With These Sports-Themed Audiobooks and Podcasts

July 26, 2024

Summer is peak season for some of our favorite sports and events. Whether you’re rooting for the home team at the ballpark or cheering for your country as it competes in Paris, Spotify’s editors have audiobook and podcast recommendations that will help you amp up your team spirit.

Audiobooks

Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance

Simone Biles, Michelle Burford

Narrated by Imani Parks

In Courage to Soar, four-time Olympic gold-winning and record-setting American gymnast Simone Biles shares how her faith, family, passion, and perseverance made her one of the top athletes and gymnasts in the world. The GOAT’s entrance into the world of gymnastics started on a field trip in her hometown of Spring, Texas, and her talent, along with drive to succeed no matter what, has fueled her ever since. This official autobiography shows that there is much more to Simone than meets the eye, and it offers inspiration for finding the courage to overcome life’s obstacles.

Make It Count: My Fight to Become the First Transgender Olympic Runner

CeCé Telfer

Narrated by CeCé Telfer

This inspiring story from the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title follows CeCé Telfer’s traditional upbringing in Jamaica, her fight to become a U.S. citizen, her efforts to achieve her Olympic dreams, and the many obstacles that came with them. It’s a story of resilience, athleticism, and a quest for clarity, because when CeCé discovered running, she also found herself. 

Three Kings: Race, Class, and the Barrier-Breaking Rivals Who Launched the Modern Olympic Age

Todd Balf

Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini

Even a century later, the 100-meter sprint final at the 1924 Paris Games is considered one of the most thrilling races in Olympic history. Broadcast live for the first time and featuring three of the world’s fastest swimmers—American legends Duke Kahanamoku and Johnny Weissmuller, and Japanese upstart Katsuo Takaishi—the race was also the first Olympic swimming final to spotlight athletes of different races. Three Kings traces the careers and rivalries of these men and looks at how our modern-day conception of athleticism and competition is rooted in this previous era and its athletes.

Drop In: The Gender Rebels Who Changed the Face of Skateboarding

Deborah Stoll

Narrated by Deborah Stoll, Daru Oda

Who gets to tell the story of skateboarding? The four skateboarders at the heart of Drop In defied expectations of gender, talent, physical ability, and mental capacity to fight the status quo: Alana as the first openly nonbinary athlete in Olympic history; Vanessa as a record-breaking runaway; Marbie as an accidental boundary-breaking trans icon; and Victoria as the skate rookie turned social media sensation. This story spotlights their paths from rebellious outsiders to pioneers onstage at the 2021 Tokyo Games, where skateboarding made its debut. 

Just Add Water: My Swimming Life 

Katie Ledecky

Narrated by Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky has won more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. Just Add Water charts Ledecky’s life in swimming, from her start in Bethesda, Maryland, where she first discovered the joy of the pool, to winning gold at just 15 years old, to balancing competition and her education at Stanford University. Ledecky shares firsthand how she developed a champion’s mindset that has allowed her to persevere through the intense pressures of her sport and how she has continued to dominate in the pool, where success comes down to  milliseconds

Podcasts

Sal’s Winning Weekend

Sal Iacono—Jimmy Kimmel Live on-air personality and host of Cousin Sal’s Winning Weekend—breaks down the world of gambling across a variety of sports, including professional football, basketball, hockey, and ultimate fighting; boxing; wrestling; and even competitive hot dog eating.

The Ryen Russillo Podcast

Each week, longtime sports radio host Ryen Russillo covers the biggest topics in sports. This podcast is one-stop listening for everything that’s happening in the athletic world, from the winners and losers to trade talk and predictions—and a dash of pop culture.

The Bill Simmons Podcast

HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time. Tune in to hear him in conversation with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media heavyweights, as well as regulars like Cousin Sal and Joe House.

Counter Pressed

Commentator Flo Lloyd-Hughes and a rotating group of friends offer a fun, unfiltered look at the world of football, with a focus on the women’s game. 

The Press Box

The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker catch up listeners on the biggest media stories of the week, from sports to politics and everything in between.

Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

Emmy-winning producer, actor, and comedian Larry Wilmore weighs in on the issues of the week and interviews guests from the worlds of politics, entertainment, culture, sports, and beyond.

Ringer Dish

Ringer Dish is the place for all things celebrity and pop culture. From major moments like the Met Gala, the Oscars, and massive sporting events to the weird habits of the stars you love, and even refreshers on the biggest tabloid stories of the last 20 years, Ringer Dish has all the vital details.

Brazil’s National Breaking Team Prepares for a New Dance Battle

August 22, 2023

Incredible rhythms, fancy footwork, talented dancers, heart-pumping battles—all this makes up breaking, a form of dancing that combines complex moves with stylized dance.

Born in the Bronx’s Black and Latino communities, breaking first originated in the ’70s at the start of the hip-hop movement. The name refers to the breakbeats that defined hip-hop’s early sound and gave dancers a chance to show off their moves. Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, dance crews formed and competed against each other, introducing new techniques like the headspin, freeze, and top rock.

Music is a critical part of breaking, and the DJs that helm the turntables often mix in elements of hip-hop, jazz, disco, electro, and more to create a compelling track for the dancers, known as b-boys and b-girls, to move to.

In the early ’80s, breaking gained momentum in Brazil, providing a new way for the country’s youth to connect and interact. To this day on the streets of São Paulo, dance battles ensue as b-boys and b-girls compete to see who has the best moves.

In 2024, breaking will make its Olympic debut in Paris, and Brazil is preparing for the Games. The Brazil national team is composed of six talented breaking stars: Leony, Luan San, Rato, Toquinha, Mini Japa, and Nathana. While they train, Spotify is with them every step of the way as a team sponsor. In addition to supporting events in the breaking community, we are providing financial aid for the team as they compete at national and international events, as well as financial support for the athletes in their training.

the full Brazil breaking team posting on steps outside

For the Record caught up with team members Leony and Toquinha to learn more about breaking and where they see the future of the sport.

​​What’s your favorite part about breaking?

Leony: The part that I love the most is the freedom within breaking—the freedom of being able to do everything in my own time, to do whatever I create in my own way, to be and do what I imagine with my breaking.

Toquinha: The best part of breaking for me is the passion in people’s eyes and the adrenaline of the battles!

Is there a particular song or artist you like to break to?

Leony: I’m a fan of A Tribe Called Quest. I think they are the best rap group ever.

Toquinha: I really like Veigh‘s songs! As a DJ, especially for training, I also like Dj Batata’Killa‘s beats.

Leony performing a breaking dance move on a bridge

Leony

A lot of improvisation is required to be good at breaking. What else do you think is essential to excel at the sport? 

Leony: You have to have personality and be original. Being “unique” in breaking is for sure one of the hardest and most valuable things.

Toquinha: To stand out in breaking, you need to have style and a lot of flow. I believe that persistence in training is the key to unlocking what your body can achieve.

What was your reaction when you learned that breaking would become an Olympic sport?

Leony: I was happy. I knew this would boost the popularity of breaking in the world, and that’s what happened.

Toquinha: When I heard that breaking will be in the Olympics, I was excited, anxious, and motivated to train more!

Toquinha performing a breaking dance move on a bridge

Toquinha

The Olympics will surely help grow understanding and knowledge of breaking. What else do you hope for the future of the sport?

Leony: I hope that with all this exposure, we can reach more people and more places.

Toquinha: Since breaking has become a part of the Olympics, it has opened a lot of doors for me and also for the rest of the world. I train and dedicate myself so that things will be easier for future generations!

What’s it been like having the support of Spotify as the team embarks on this journey?

Leony: It’s been amazing, not only for us as members of the team but for national breaking. Breaking and music are inseparable, and having a company like Spotify helping to spread breaking in Brazil has undoubtedly helped a lot. This gives us recognition and the hope to achieve more.

Toquinha: For me, it was amazing to receive Spotify’s sponsorship proposal. It’s uncanny how much breaking and Spotify really go well together!

 

Seleção Brasileira de Breaking se prepara para uma Nova Batalha de Dança

August 22, 2023

Ritmos incríveis, footwork sofisticado, dançarinos talentosos, batalhas de tirar o fôlego – tudo isso compõe o Breaking, uma forma de dança que combina movimentos complexos com dança estilizada

Nascido nas comunidades negra e latina do Bronx, o Breaking se originou nos anos 70, no início do movimento Hip Hop. O nome refere-se aos breakbeats que definiram o som inicial do Hip Hop, que deu aos dançarinos a chance de mostrar seus movimentos. Ao longo dos anos 70 e 80, equipes de dança se formaram e competiram entre si, introduzindo novas técnicas como o headspin, freeze e o top rock.

Música é uma parte crítica do Breaking, e os DJs que comandam as mesas geralmente misturam elementos de hip hop, jazz, disco, electro e muito mais para criar uma faixa atraente para os dançarinos, conhecidos como b-boys e b-girls. 

No início dos anos 80, o Breaking ganhou força no Brasil, proporcionando uma nova maneira para a juventude do país se conectar e interagir. E até hoje nas ruas de São Paulo acontecem batalhas de dança, com b-boys e b-girls disputando quem tem os melhores movimentos.

Em 2024, o Breaking fará sua estreia olímpica em Paris e o Brasil se prepara para os jogos. A seleção brasileira é composta por seis estrelas de destaque: Leony, Luan San, Rato, Toquinha, Mini Japa e Nathana. Enquanto eles treinam, o Spotify está com eles a cada passo do caminho como patrocinador da equipe. Além de apoiar eventos na comunidade do Breaking, estamos fornecendo ajuda financeira para a equipe competir em eventos nacionais e internacionais, bem como em seus treinamentos.

O For the Record conversou com os membros da equipe Leony e Toquinha para saber mais sobre o Breaking e onde eles veem o futuro do esporte.

Qual é a sua parte favorita sobre Breaking? 

Leony: A liberdade, a parte que eu mais amo é a liberdade dentro do breaking, a liberdade de poder fazer tudo no meu tempo, de fazer qualquer coisa que eu criar do meu jeito. A liberdade de ser e fazer aquilo que eu imagino com o meu breaking.

Toquinha: A melhor parte do breaking pra mim é o sangue no olho e a adrenalina das batalhas!

Existe uma música ou artista em particular que você gosta de ouvir? 

Leony: Eu sou fã do A Tribe Called Quest. Pra mim o melhor grupo de rap que teve.

Toquinha: Eu gosto muito das músicas do Veigh! Como dj, em especial pra treinar eu curto os beats do Dj Batata’Killa.

Leony performing a breaking dance move on a bridge

Leony

Qual foi sua reação quando soube que o Breaking se tornaria um esporte olímpico?

Leony: Fiquei feliz, eu sabia que isso alavancaria o breaking no mundo, e foi o que aconteceu.

Toquinha: Quando eu soube que o breaking estará nas olimpíadas eu fiquei animada, ansiosa e motivada a treinar mais!

Muita improvisação é necessária para ser bom em Breaking. O que mais você acha que é essencial para se destacar no esporte? 

Leony: Ter personalidade e ser original. Com certeza ser “único” no breaking é uma das coisas mais difíceis e sem dúvidas a mais valiosa.

Toquinha: Para se destacar no Breaking você precisa ter estilo é muito flow. Acredito que a persistência nos treinos é a chave para desbloquear tudo oque o seu corpo alcança e você ainda não sabe.

Toquinha performing a breaking dance move on a bridge

Toquinha

As Olimpíadas certamente ajudarão a aumentar a compreensão e o conhecimento do Breaking. O que mais você espera para o futuro do esporte?

Leony: Espero que com toda essa exposição, possamos alcançar mais pessoas e mais lugares.

Toquinha: O breaking entrando no ramo olímpico abriu muitas portas pra mim e também pro resto do mundo. Eu treino e me dedico muito para que no futuro as coisas sejam mais fáceis para as novas gerações e é isso o que eu espero!

Como tem sido ter o apoio do Spotify enquanto a equipe embarca nessa jornada?

Leony: Tem sido incrível, não só para nós como membros da seleção mas para o breaking nacional. Breaking e música são um casal inseparáveis e ter uma empresa como a Spotify ajudando a disseminar o breaking no Brasil sem dúvidas tem ajudado muito. Isso nós dá uma notoriedade e valor para alcançar mais coisas.

Toquinha: Pra mim foi incrível receber a proposta de patrocínio da Spotify.. É bizarro o quanto Breaking e Spotify combinam!