On June 21, Andrade competed at the 2026 Pan American Gymnastics Championships, focusing only on vault. Her first vault came clean, a Yurchenko double full that landed with a small step back, enough for 14.433. In her second attempt, she had a little more fight in it, a slight break on the block, and a step out on landing, but still strong enough at 13.700. It added up to a winning average of 14.266 and another gold medal.

It was not a lonely fight. Canada’s Lia-Monica Fontaine stayed close the whole way with 14.249, and American Claire Pease followed behind with 13.916. But this level of close margins was almost expected from her after her previous game.

Andrade also contributed to Brazil’s silver medal in the women’s team event earlier this week. She competed just on the vault apparatus and scored the highest with a Yurchenko double twist for 14.533 that was almost stuck, followed by a Lopez for 14.166.

That vault gold marked her fifth Pan American title and her first on the event, alongside previous wins in the all-around, team, and uneven bars. It also gave Brazil its first gold medal of the championships. Now, her attention might have turned towards the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam from October 17 to 25, but her long-term goal remains fixed.

While this win gave her another big moment, she also found herself in the spotlight for a different reason after the competition.

Rebeca Andrade’s Rio comeback win turns into a viral moment beyond gymnastics

Just after the win, Rebeca Andrade shared a few stories from the day that showed a softer side of her celebration. She reshared a post from Lorrane Santos, her close friend, teammate, and fellow Brazilian gymnast. In the photo, both looked happy, and Lorrane’s caption read, “my champion, so happy for your return, I love you, I love you, I love you.” Most of her other stories were focused on the competition and her vault routine, but one moment caught extra attention online.

Among the posts was a sweet picture of a girl kissing her on the cheek. It was captioned as,  “Thank you for supporting me and being here at this important moment in my life! I love you.” That single post quickly spread beyond gymnastics circles and sparked reactions online about the pair possibly being involved romantically. However, nothing about it is confirmed. But the focus didn’t take her attention away from her goals.

After Paris 2024, her story had come along a very different path. She left those Games with gold in the floor exercise, silver in the individual all-around and vault, and bronze in the team event. This was one of her best but toughest seasons. 

Shortly thereafter, Andrade took a break from competition to rest her body, renew her energy and rejuvenate her mind, even missing the 2025 World Championships. “I’m resting. It’s been very important to me,” she told Globo. “It was something I’ve wanted for a long time, but understanding my priorities, I ended up putting it off. But today, it’s been wonderful.”

That break became a quiet pause in her journey rather than an ending. Now at 27, she is back in competition, rebuilding step by step. LA 2028 sits in the background. “I’m proud of myself for my return, for the way it went. We’ll take it step by step. I think the biggest challenge is confidence; this return was hard-won, very difficult, but it has been rewarding,” she said. And with every return, she is showing everyone that her story in gymnastics is still far from finished.

The post Rebecca Andrade Wins Her First Podium Years After Paris Olympics Run appeared first on EssentiallySports.

The 18-year-old has made the decision to switch her nationality to Sri Lanka for a reason close to her roots. On June 22, the UCLA freshman shared the news on Instagram, writing: “I have always had the utmost passion for gymnastics and I fell in love with the sport from my very first day. Over the past 5 years, I have had the absolute privilege and honor to represent Team USA and I could not be more grateful for the opportunities it has brought me. I will forever cherish these moments…With that being said, I have decided to represent Sri Lanka.”

Born in Fremont, California, Tiana’s journey into gymnastics began almost by accident. At just six years old, a local coach spotted her at a birthday party where she was flipping on a trampoline. She did not even know what gymnastics was at the time, but the coach told her mother that she had something “special” and should be enrolled in the sport. At first, her mother thought it was just a passing comment, but Tiana kept showing natural movement at home.

That early start encouraged her to go into gymnastics, and she progressively worked her way through the ranks in the U.S. system until she became one of the nation’s top young talents. That journey became a reality when she picked up team gold for the United States at the 2025 Pan American Championships. But why switch now, especially after joining UCLA in 2026?

UCLA's Tiana Sumanasekera has announced a nationality change

The former U.S. gymnast will now represent her parents' home country of Sri Lanka! pic.twitter.com/ZIZmOhVHMn

— Gymnastics Now (@Gymnastics_Now) June 21, 2026

Tiana herself gave the answer in her statement, saying, “Competing at the Olympics would be an absolute dream come true, and having the chance to honor my heritage by doing it for a country I hold so close to my heart makes it that much more special. Gymnastics is so underrepresented in Sri Lanka and South Asia as a whole, so I am beyond honored to help bring representation to such a beautiful and diverse part of the world. As a Sri Lankan American, my heart will always be proud to belong to both countries.”

Well, she was born to Sri Lankan parents, Rajitha and Ruwangi Sumanasekera; she has always carried that connection with her. It has often shown up in her floor routines, where she has leaned into South Asian inspired choreography. One of her most talked-about performances at UCLA featured Bollywood-style music and movement, which connected with fans, especially from the South Asian community.

As she once said, “There were multiple South Asian girls reaching out to me after the competition and saying how inspiring it was to see Bollywood dance on the floor.” Interestingly, her switch to Sri Lanka gives the country something it has rarely had in gymnastics!

Tiana Sumanasekera could change Sri Lanka’s gymnastics future

Sri Lanka is not a strong gymnastics nation yet, and most of its athletes are still building experience on the international stage. At the 2025 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, Sri Lanka’s top gymnast Nuyara Fernando finished 24th in the all-around with 42.699.

Sri Lanka’s biggest success in sports so far is Milka Gehani de Silva, the first Sri Lankan gymnast to compete in the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, 2020. Although the nation has yet to win its first big international medal, it was a historic move. Recently, Amaya Sithumini Klukottage became the first-ever Sri Lankan gymnast to represent the country at the FISU World University Games in 2023

This is why Tiana’s decision is so special.  She has trained at World Champions Centre alongside Simone Biles. As she once said, “Training with all of these amazing athletes like Simone [Biles], Jordan [Chiles], everybody, it’s so cool and so surreal. So they’re very supportive. We make each other better gymnasts, athletes, everything, so they’re just so supportive, and I love working with them.”

Beyond that training environment, brings a wealth of international stage experience to the table.She has competed at the highest levels of the sport including the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where Simone Biles finished first in the all-around and Tiana placed eighth. Her resume also includes Pan American all-around title, a spot in the Paris Olympics alternate roster for the 2024 Games. Not to mention that she also has great NCAA results to her name, such as Second-Team All-America in the all-around, NCAA Regional Floor Champion, First-Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Freshman, and 5-time U.S. National Team player.

Put simply, she brings a level of experience Sri Lanka has never had in women’s artistic gymnastics. And because of that, people are already talking about what this could mean for the future, including possible World Championships appearances and even a pathway to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Even U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles showed support under her announcement, commenting “Yasssss!!!!”, a small but telling sign of how well she is respected in the gymnastics community.

For Sri Lanka, this is like a door opening, where a country still building its gymnastics identity suddenly has an athlete who has already competed at the highest level in the sport.

The post Simone Biles’ Former Training Partner Changes Nationality Leaving USA for Sri Lanka appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On June 17, Biles shared photos from Belize on her Instagram. In the first image, she wore a black bikini with white straps and sunglasses, with her hair styled in long braids while holding a green drink. Other photos showed her standing on a wooden deck at what appeared to be a resort, enjoying a relaxed setting away from training and competition. She even captioned the post, “relaxing in paradise ”

However, the post quickly sparked negative reactions. One user commented, “Almost died but look at these traveling selfies… .” Biles responded directly, saying the comment made her sad.

She shared, “Ugh, these comments make me sad. a little over two weeks ago, I experienced a serious medical emergency that could have ended very differently, and this trip has been part of allowing myself to heal & appreciate being here. I hope you understand that life changing experiences can shift your perspective. & that you’re able to extend a little more grace to others moving forward have a nice day!”

Biles is yet to share the full details of her medical issue after initially stating she would explain it “sooner or later.” Almost two weeks later, she still has not revealed more. But that doesn’t give anyone the right to pass judgment on how she celebrates her vacation, does it? And that’s the point some fans seem to miss.

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A post shared by SIMONE BILES (@simonebiles)

In another exchange under the same post, a user questioned her about the drink she was holding in the first picture on the carousel, writing, “Almost died but on vacation drinking??” Biles replied directly, “I don’t owe you anything but have you ever heard of non alcoholic drinks”

While Biles has not yet shared full details of what happened, she has said she is feeling better. What’s sad is that this is the second time Biles has had to address fan boundary violations in three months.

Simone Biles asks fans for privacy during Madrid Laureus awards trip

Simone Biles was invited to attend the Laureus World Sports Awards on April 19 at the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain. She was one of the elite athletes from around the world attending one of the sport’s most prestigious award nights as a Laureus Ambassador and special guest. It was a quieter personal trip, as she made the trip without her husband, who remained in the United States for training camp with the Indianapolis Colts.

Reports from Madrid noted that fans outside her hotel waited for hours to meet her, making the trip more intense and overwhelming than it should have been. Later, Biles spoke to her fans through a direct message on Instagram, addressing the situation.

“Okay I realllilly love how passionate and dedicated y’all are, BUT I have to be honest. It really makes me anxious when you stand outside of the hotel all day. Can we please please please love from afar & respect privacy xx.”

Despite her appreciation for the support, her message made her boundary clear. She welcomed fan interaction in public spaces, but asked for space and privacy when she is off the clock and away from public events.

The post “Make Me Sad”: Simone Biles Fires Back at False Narrative Around Health Scare appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On June 18, Andrade returned to international competition for the first time since Paris 2024, representing Brazil in the team event. She only performed the vault, where she opened with a nearly stuck Yurchenko double twist for 14.533 (9.533 E), then followed it with a Lopez vault, scoring 14.166 (9.366 E).

Her average score of 14.349 was enough to put her at the top and secure a place in the apparatus final, while Brazil also had plenty to celebrate in the team competition.

The team included Gabriela Bouças, Julia Soares, Sophia Weisberg, and Thaís Fidélis, and each of them had their moments. Brazil started on uneven bars and stayed steady, finishing the rotation without falls. Gabriela Bouças led the way with 13.033 points. Weisberg added 12.966 with a clean dismount, while Fidélis contributed 12.733, helping Brazil reach a total of 38.699 on the apparatus.

On the balance beam, Fidélis delivered the standout routine of the day. Despite missing one connection, she showcased strong execution to score 13.833 and qualify for the apparatus final in first place. Soares followed with a controlled routine for 13.566, while Weisberg posted 12.600. Bouças, meanwhile, endured a difficult outing with two falls, resulting in her score being dropped.

Rebeca Andrade returns in stunning fashion, easily qualifying to the vault final in the No. 1 spot by more than half a point over the next competitor.

DTY = 14.533 (9.533 E)
Lopez = 14.166 (9.366 E)

Average (with bonus) = 14.549 pic.twitter.com/XAC2b5VnfS

— Gymnastics Now (@Gymnastics_Now) June 17, 2026

Floor exercise brought more struggle for Brazil. Thaís Fidélis led with 12.766, while Weisberg’s routine to “Sequência Feiticeira” by Pedro Sampaio lifted the crowd at Arena Carioca 1. Soares had landing issues and stepped out twice for 12.166, and Bouças fell on her final pass for 11.533.

The team ended with 37.499, below their potential on the event. Expectations were high for vault, and there, Andrade delivered. In the end, the United States, who were without Simone Biles, took gold with 161.628 points, Brazil finished with silver at 157.796, and Canada took bronze with 156.997.

It was a solid return to the sport for Andrade, who decided to scale back her competition schedule after Paris 2024. But her biggest motivation for returning is chasing the one thing still missing from her resume. She already has 11 World Championship medals and six Olympic medals, but an Olympic medal on the uneven bars, her favorite apparatus, remains elusive.

Rebeca Andrade chases missing Olympic piece as Biles’s leave 2028 Return Uncertain

Rebeca Andrade’s best result on bars so far is a silver at the 2021 World Championships, and she has been open about what she still wants to achieve.

“I would really like us to qualify the team so we can be in Los Angeles so I can compete in the final on the apparatus I will be performing on,” Andrade said. “I really want to come back to Brazil with a medal on uneven bars. It’s my dream.” But while Andrade looks ahead, the other side of the story still feels uncertain.

Simone Biles has not confirmed whether she would return for the 2028 Olympics. “I’d say we’re still at fifty percent. I feel we should admire athletes while they are competing. I’ve already been to three Olympic Games, and I feel fulfilled. It is crazy to see how people always want more from you. In the end, the decision will always be mine,” she told El País.

Biles has indicated she’d probably be in Los Angeles, but hasn’t yet made up her mind if it will be as an athlete or merely as a spectator. She hasn’t competed since Paris 2024, and she has not officially announced if she is returning to training. Nevertheless, there are a number of factors that may influence her decision.

Physical demand is the first. Next, she explained in Paris how difficult it was for her to recover. There is a lot of stress put on the joints and muscles in gymnastics, and by 2028, she would be approximately 31 years old, and at that age, very few females are still at the highest level of gymnastics. The second is the lengthy preparation process. It would take years of systematic training, repetition, and gradually building up competition readiness.

The third is mental balance. Biles has often spoken about the pressure she has carried through her Olympic journey, especially in Tokyo. In recent years, she has leaned more toward a calmer routine and life outside competition. “I think the Olympics at home are motivation enough, but at the same time, I feel like our bodies are a bit like an hourglass that keeps running out. I’m 29 now, and although longevity has advanced by leaps and bounds in elite sports, it would be a huge sacrifice to try to be in Los Angeles. We’ll see,” she said.

For now, the question stays open. Biles’ return is possible, but not certain, and that uncertainty keeps the rivalry, at least in memory, still very much alive.

The post Rebeca Andrade Delivers Outstanding Performance at Pan American Gymnastics Championships in Simone Biles’ Absence appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On June 14, Biles shared a video on Instagram, revealing that she was traveling to a place that means more to her than any other vacation destination. “We are going to my favorite vacation spot in the whole entire world today, which is Belize,” she said.

The country holds a special place in Biles’ heart because of her mother, Nellie Biles. Born and raised in Belize before moving to the United States, Nellie later adopted Simone and her younger sister, Adria, alongside her husband, Ronald Biles. Because of her mother’s Belizean heritage, Simone and her siblings hold dual citizenship in both the United States and Belize. Over the years, the Olympic champion has often referred to Belize as her “second home.”

Speaking about her childhood visits, Biles recalled, “My mom and her whole entire family were born and raised in Belize, and so me and my siblings actually have dual citizenship.” She went on to share memories of spending time on Caye Caulker, one of Belize’s most popular islands. “Growing up, we used to go to Caye Caulker all the time, and it was so long ago that the island didn’t even have fresh water for the sink or the shower. We showered with the salt water,” Biles said.

 

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The video then followed Biles through her travel day. She showed herself finishing her packing, spending a few moments with her dogs, and getting ready to leave. At one point, she laughed that her luggage was probably over 50 pounds. From there, she shared clips of leaving home, arriving at the airport, boarding her flight, and eventually landing in Belize, where she collected her luggage and officially began the trip.

The getaway appears to come at the perfect time for the couple. Owens still has a few weeks before the Colts report for training camp later in July at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana. But this is not the first time Biles has returned to the country. She took a family trip to Belize in 2015 and stayed on Ambergris Caye. However, the nation has also embraced Biles’ achievements as if they were made under their own flag.

Belize celebrated Simone Biles’ Olympic success as one of its own

Simone Biles won four gold medals and one bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Soon after, the Belize Tourism Board publicly congratulated and invited the gymnast: “Congrats @simone_biles! Belize is so proud of you. We’d love to host you and the entire #FinalFive on a vacation once you’re ready to relax.”

Biles replied, “My second home, you betta Belize we’re coming.” And she did. Following the Olympics, Biles traveled to Belize, where she received a warm welcome. Celebrations were organized in her honor, including a motorcade.

“Simone’s success at such a young age will not only serve as an inspiration and motivation to our athletes to strive for excellence in all they do but as an inspiration and motivation to all Belizeans countrywide,” the Belize Tourism Board said in a statement.

But her ties to Belize didn’t end with Rio. Then in 2017, she came back with her family and friends and visited archaeological sites, waterfalls, rainforests and coastal areas of the country in Maya. She came again in 2021, spending a few days in Ambergris Caye and being given symbolic keys to the town of San Pedro.

Biles even selected Belize for her bachelorette party before she wed Jonathan Owens in 2023. The couple had a lot of fun there last year and shared pictures and videos from their travels on social media. Belize is more than a vacation destination; it’s a place that helps Biles to connect with her family, her childhood, and a community that has loved her all these years.

The post Simone Biles Returns to Her Mother’s Country Just Days After Her Major Health Scare appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On June 12, after finishing mandatory minicamp, Jonathan Owens returned to his Texas home, where Biles is recovering. During this time, he also shared a glimpse of her on Instagram Story, posting a picture of Biles relaxing on a balcony lounge chair. She was wearing a grey top, black leggings, and white socks, with a view of greenery and a water body in the background. He even captioned the post “Views ,” showing a beautiful moment at home.

This comes after a tense week where Biles had already shared how much she had been resting and recovering. Earlier, she had posted a photo from her Texas home showing hospital wristbands, red and white. In another update, she shared a more emotional moment of recovery, resting in bed with her dogs Lilo and Rambo beside her, writing, “I’ll be here.” The post also included a heart rate reading of 126 bpm.

While 126 bpm is on the higher side for a resting pulse, there is no confirmation of what caused it. Still, it has added to concern among fans, especially given her history.

In 2018, Biles faced a kidney stone during the World Championships in Doha and even required an emergency room visit the night before competition. At the time, she shared, “Nothing like a late night ER visit less than 24 hrs before world championships.” She added, “This kidney stone can wait… doing it for my team!” Despite the pain, she still competed, qualified first in multiple events, and went on to win medals, becoming one of the strongest examples of her pushing through pain under pressure.

But this time, the situation feels heavier, and it naturally brings back the question of her long-term future. With talk around Los Angeles 2028 already building, fans are starting to wonder if her body will really allow another Olympic run.

Simone Biles health scare raises questions over LA 2028 return

Nearly two years after her last competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Simone Biles has not returned to full gymnastics training. She has been open about where she stands, saying she is still only “about 50 percent,” while also reminding people that athletes should be appreciated while they are active, not only after they achieve everything. Having already competed in three Olympic Games, she has said she feels fulfilled, and that the final decision about her future will always be hers.

At the same time, Biles has been honest about slowing down. She has spoken about taking a break from intense exercise and simply letting herself live outside the constant demands of elite training after years at the very top. “I think it’s just so I can say I’m doing a little movement, because I actually hate exercise,” she admitted. She is giving herself time to rest after everything she has done in the sport but that doesn’t mean she has completely given up on LA 2028, however.

Competing at home may be a powerful motivation to come back for a fourth Olympic Games, but she has also been honest about what it would require. When asked if she’d be able to get back to that level by then, she replied, “We’ll have to see.” She has admitted that the body is like an “hourglass” that is running out.

Physical strength is not her only criterion for her choice. Biles has said her mental health is her first priority.“In the end, the decision will always be mine,” she has said.

Yet, should she be returning to competition, it would demand her to return for structured training well in advance, similar to her previous return after Tokyo 2020. At the time, she put herself aside and came back to full training around 2022, almost 2 years before the Paris Olympics. If LA 2028 is the desired destination, a similar approach would probably be required. That would most likely require her to go back to the basics at least two years before the Games, in late 2026, to allow her to get used to it and rebuild her routines.

But, for now, it’s all open, and it depends more on recovery and readiness, on how she feels in her own body than any outside timeline.

The post Jonathan Owens Drops Simone Biles Update After Her Health Scare Confession appeared first on EssentiallySports.

It’s why, when asked who the injuries would hurt the most: an Olympian, an NBA player, or a rapper, Chiles asserted that it was always going to be the Olympian.

“Injury, I feel like I would have to say the Olympics,” Chiles said on the Ball in the Family podcast. “Only because when you’re on an Olympic stage, your ability, like, that, that’s your last chance out of the, you know, the years. Like, it’s not just four years we’re working.

“We’re working our whole life. So, when we’re in that moment, and something happens, it really hurts. It really takes a toll mentally.”

However, the former UCLA Bruins star did feel for rappers. “Now, with rapping, I feel like it’s more of a pride thing because it’s like, man, if my album didn’t get selected for something or I didn’t get an award, it’s like, okay, I can take it, rap about it, and then hopefully that makes people understand,” she added. “Unlike the Olympics, [where] we can’t go back and do it all over again.”

And nobody knows that better than Jordan Chiles.

The now 25-year-old two-time Olympic medalist has been through the wringer during her career. From her mother being sent to federal prison to her aunt and grandfather passing away, as well as her battle with ADHD, Chiles always managed to put the right foot forward, becoming one of the elite gymnasts around.

She thrived at the collegiate level for the Bruins, leading them to a silver medal in the team event at the 2025 NCAA Championships. While she secured numerous individual titles during her time at UCLA, Chiles missed out on a team title. And the American did all that while battling with her fair share of injuries. 2019 was one of her worst years as she had to undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage in August.

It had fans worried with the Tokyo Olympics set to take place in a year, but that eventually got delayed to 2021. That allowed Chiles to heal her wrist and her dislocated toe, which she also injured in 2019. Then, in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the now 25-year-old was suffering from both knee and shoulder issues.

It led to her pulling out of a few competitions. Then, in July 2024, Gymnastics Now reported that Chiles suffered a “partially torn LCL and fractured fibula in March”. It’s why the Bruins star pulled out of the 2024 Winter Cup, following medical advice. Once again, fans were worried about whether she would make the cut for Paris, but her mother assuaged those fears.

Congratulations to @ChilesJordan on being named to @TIME‘s “100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026″

Full Profile https://t.co/DUZ8cyZoDS https://t.co/wcj0MxkjtH pic.twitter.com/5sd0xNPJb2

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) June 9, 2026

Chiles did indeed make it to the Paris Olympics, played a key role in Team USA winning the team gold medal, and picked up a bronze medal in the floor event. Then controversy struck, and officials officially awarded the medal to Ana Barbosu of Romania. That, alongside the criticism and hate, hurt Chiles more than any injury ever had, so much so that she considered never competing again.

Jordan Chiles opens up on how Paris affected her

In 2024, Jordan Chiles was far from the favourite to win a medal at the Paris Olympics. The American had entered the competition only after injuries to other gymnasts gave her a place. Thus, not much was expected. But Chiles showed up and showed out. Not only that, the now 25-year-old finished second to Simone Biles to qualify for the floor exercise final.

It pitted her against some of the best, and as the last gymnast to compete, she knew exactly what she had to do. And Chiles did it, although her initial score placed her fifth. That changed after coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi filed an inquiry, moving her into third behind Biles and Rebeca Andrade. The very next day, however, the Romanian federation appealed her score, ruling that the inquiry was filed late.

Six days later, the IOC asked her to return the bronze medal, moving Chiles to fifth and giving Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu the bronze. That hit the Bruins star hard, and the criticism and abuse after the fact affected her so much that she believed she would never compete again.

“I thought, ‘There’s no way I’m going to compete on a competition floor again,” Chiles told ESPN. “I’m going to get looked at. People are going to yell crazy things. The negativity is just going to keep coming.’”

For Jordan Chiles, winning that Olympic medal was one of the happiest moments of her life. Now, however, with her appeal still ongoing, the American can’t feel that way.

“I can still feel the joy and happiness I had when I won the bronze medal,” Chiles added. “I was happy that I was able to stand on that podium with Simone and Rebeca because that’s a lifelong dream of a little girl. But now, some days I don’t get to think that way.”

However, thanks to her Bruins teammates and coaches, and several others, Chiles did return to the mat. That’s even if she believed the joy she got from competing was “lost for a while”. And now, having retired from collegiate gymnastics, only time will tell whether she returns at LA 2028 to earn herself another Olympic medal.

The post “That’s Your Last Chance”: Jordan Chiles Details the Toughest Injury of Her Gymnastics Career appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On June 10, on the Ball in the Family Podcast with Lonzo & Gelo Ball, Chiles opened up in her own words about just how intense that energy used to be. “I have bad ADHD. When I was younger, my ADHD was off the walls. I was bouncing off of refrigerators. The back piece of like your couches when you were younger. I would walk on that, do cartwheels and handstands. I would just randomly cartwheel on the side of the sidewalk. Didn’t care if there was cars.”

Jordan Chiles explained how that constant movement followed her everywhere, even in sports and school. In baseball, she could hit well, but staying still in the outfield was another story. Her mom and dad got her into sports (T-ball and track) to help harness her energy, but it still wasn’t enough.

As she played T-ball in the outfield, she said, “I used to play T-ball, and I was a hitter. Great home runs, everything. But then in the outfield, all I would do is do cartwheels and pick dandelions.” So, it didn’t work.

Eventually, her family saw that she needed something that could match her energy instead of trying to contain it. That was when gymnastics entered her life differently. Jordan Chiles joined a recreational gymnastics class in 2007 at the age of six. After just one class, her constant movement and natural ability, especially her cartwheels and handstands, stood out so much that coaches asked her to try out for their pre-team.

By 2011, Jordan Chiles qualified for the Junior Olympic Nationals. In 2013, she advanced to elite-level gymnastics. In 2014, she joined the Junior U.S. National Team and soon after made her first international appearance. Looking back, Chiles explained how everything shifted once she stepped into the sport. Gymnastics finally gave her energy a purpose and changed everything, even outside the gym.

“That’s when I got really connected to it because I was able to actually focus in school. I was able to actually do my homework because the energy that I was putting into gymnastics was draining me so bad that it was like, okay like she can focus. I always say gymnastics saved my life because I don’t know what I would be doing if this sport wasn’t a part of me.”

Not to mention, Jordan Chiles has been candid about her ADHD before, including during a 2024 conversation with Elle Magazine. Growing up as one of five siblings, she had energy to burn and nowhere to put it.

“I had really bad ADHD when I was younger,” Jordan Chiles told Elle Magazine. “It was getting to the point where my teachers were concerned whether I was going to be able to pass school. So I always say, ‘Gymnastics saved me.’ Being able to get her energy out was “something I’m very thankful for. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t in this sport.”

But over time, the joy she once felt in standing out for something she loved started to fade because of external pressure

Simone Biles helped Jordan Chiles rebuild her confidence

In 2018, the weight of it all began to settle in. Jordan Chiles finished 11th in the all-around at nationals, a result that shook her confidence. She later admitted she started to feel like the sport “didn’t want her anymore,” and for the first time, walking away from elite gymnastics felt like a real option. It was not just the scores that hurt, but everything surrounding them.

She felt increasingly isolated, questioning her place in the sport. “I didn’t think people around me wanted to see this beautiful black girl in a leo anymore,” Chiles said. During that same period, a former coach made harsh remarks about her body and appearance, calling her “fat” and even “double head,” a comment tied to her hair. Those experiences chipped away at her confidence.

By the end of the year, stepping away seemed like the only way forward. That was when Simone Biles stepped in, inviting Chiles to move to Texas and train with coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi. As Chiles told Wrap.com, “It was my best friend Simone who gave me hope and a new path to my dream when I was about to give it up.”

From there, her journey began to turn. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she helped the United States win gold in the team all-around and earned bronze in the floor exercise, a result that has since been part of ongoing review and legal discussion in the sport.

The post “Saved My Life”: Jordan Chiles on Gymnastics Becoming Ultimate Lifeline for ADHD appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On June 6, Biles shared a series of Instagram Stories. In the first story, she showed her wrist covered with multiple hospital bracelets, red and white in color. Alongside it, she revealed just how serious the situation had been. “I’m not one to normally share things like this because I value privacy in today’s age, but almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card earlier this week,” she wrote.

Biles did not reveal the exact medical emergency, but she shared what made the experience more difficult. “This was one of, if not the scariest experience of my life, especially since Jonathan was in Indy for practices,” she added. Her husband, Jonathan Owens, is with the Indianapolis Colts for NFL offseason practices after joining the team earlier this year.

She further went on to share that she had spent much of the week resting in bed as she recovered. She also thanked friends and loved ones who checked in on her, visited her, and sent flowers during the difficult period. In a follow-up story, Biles shared a photo of flower bouquets she was receiving while recovering, and said she would share more information as soon as she felt ready.

Her final update was a really emotional picture of recovery.

Biles shared a photo from her Texas home showing her resting in bed with her two dogs, Lilo and Rambo, lying beside her. Across the image, she wrote, “I’ll be here.” A heart-rate graph was also included, with a reading of “126” beats per minute.

Biles didn’t provide a meaning to the number, but it helps her fans guess her condition. A pulse rate of 126 bpm is fairly high, but it is not known if this was a result of the heart issue. It could be a stress response or even dehydration. If Owens had been there, it would have brought her some relief. After all, he’s always been an anchor for her through life’s challenges.

Jonathan Owens stood by Simone Biles during her darkest Olympic moment

One of the hardest moments Biles had was in the Tokyo Olympics when she withdrew from multiple events due to “twisties.” She later confessed, “I didn’t know where I was in the air.” It would have resulted in a serious injury if she had continued to compete, given the difficulty of her routines.

But many criticized her for her withdrawal. Charlie Kirk described her as “a selfish sociopath,” and British television host Piers Morgan described her as a “quitter,” and told people to “stop celebrating weakness.” But Owens was with her throughout the backlash. The NFL safety was Biles’ boyfriend at the time and openly backed their partner when her criticism was at its peak.

He shared on Instagram, “Imma ride with you through whatever baby Your strength and courage is unmatched and you inspire me more and more everyday SB .” He further added, “You always gone be my champ baby and don’t you ever forget that, i love you so much and i can’t wait till you come home and i get to see that beautiful smile again. You know I’m always here for you baby ”

This support has been a constant feature in their relationship. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Owens was also present to cheer on Biles when she secured three gold medals and a silver. But that win came at a cost, too. After the Games, her body “literally collapsed” when she returned to the Olympic Village. For the next 10 days, she was sick and felt the impact that years of high-level gymnastics had had on her body.

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On June 3, the seven-time Olympic gold medalist shared a video from a backyard trampoline session with 20-year-old LSU gymnast Zoe Miller, who retired from elite gymnastics in April 2024. This video came months after her statement on a possible return.

In the clip, Miller first completed a backflip before Biles followed with two of her own, landing both clean while wearing a red two-piece outfit. This should prove that Biles is still in form, because sticking a landing like that on a trampoline isn’t easy.

She captioned the post, “summer nights playing stick it ,” while Miller commented on the post, “so funnn.”

Last month, Biles stated: “I feel like we’re still at a 50-50 and that we’re still on a time crunch here now it’s almost half of 2026. We’re going to have to make these decisions pretty quickly.”

And on May 29, Biles told El País that she still considered herself an active gymnast even though she has not returned to formal gymnastics training. She insisted that many of her skills remain intact.

“If you asked me to do a backflip, I would do it right here, no problem. It wouldn’t be hard for me,” Biles said.

“I still have the physical condition to do what I want. The other day, in fact, I was on the trampoline in my backyard and started doing tricks with my former coach Zoe Miller.”

Just five days later, Biles has offered proof.

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A post shared by SIMONE BILES (@simonebiles)

Biles and Miller first met when Miller moved to Texas at the age of nine to train at the World Champions Centre (facility owned by Biles’ parents, Ron and Nellie Biles). At the time Biles was 17. Since then, their bond grew from training partners to close friends.

Biles once even called Miller, “baby daughter twin,” while Miller has said in 2023, “I’ve trained with [Simone] since a young age, but now that I’m older, we have a lot more fun because we can relate more. It’s been really nice.”

Moreover, their partnership has gone beyond the gym: They’ve vlogged together, created TikToks, and done lighthearted challenges. Back in 2023, during the Core Hydration Classic, they had a friendly $200 bet.

The bet was about a celebration dance after Miller’s uneven bars routine. Miller did the dance, and Biles lost the bet and had to pay her $200.

Even after Miller moved away from elite gymnastics, the connection stayed the same. Biles has visited her at LSU, and one surprise visit didn’t go exactly as planned after Miller spotted her location through Apple’s Find My feature. Still, they managed to spend time together and were later seen in matching LSU hoodies and denim outfits.

In the end, the timing of the video Biles posted caught attention. It came just weeks after Biles said she still hadn’t made up her mind about a possible return for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The big question around Simone Biles’ future

Paris Olympics showed both sides of Simone Biles at once: the greatness that remains, and the reality of time catching up. Despite the calf problem, she competed at the Paris Olympics and continued to push through pain. She did all four events for Team USA and performed when it counted. However, it was not easy to conceal the strain.

After the Games, she admitted how much it affected her body, saying, “I feel like my body is slowly starting to shut down, like, it’s ready to be done.”

Even on the podium after her final floor routine, she was smiling, but the physical toll was already visible. Once she returned to the Olympic Village, things became harder. She later revealed she could not walk properly, needed elevators to move around, felt completely exhausted, and spent days feeling unwell.

Since then, Biles has stepped away from structured training. She has been open about needing distance from the sport.

“I actually hate exercise. I feel like after doing it for so long, I deserve a break. And I’m giving myself that privilege,” she admitted last month.

That is where the question becomes difficult. After being away from a sport like gymnastics for this long, and with LA28 approaching, the challenge is not just returning, but returning at the same level. By 2028, she would be around 31 years old, an age when very few female gymnasts are still competing at the top level.

And Biles herself isn’t sure if she will return on not. It’s 50-50 for her but she knows she needs to make a decision soon.

For now, she has neither retired nor returned to training, and the reality of what comes next will become clearer in the coming months.

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