

Jordan Chiles has perhaps known the challenges of becoming an athlete better than most. She’s heard the ‘ not your typical gymnast’ comments, and she’s heard slurs. She’s left lost and defeated, and she’s wished to quit. But when things turned dark, “the things that I would do is just lean on my support system.” Given a choice, Chiles would keep every detail of her life to herself. But she knows the upcoming generation need a path, something to look at, and that’s exactly what she’s been focusing on.
“The SHERO Athlete Collective is not just a name; it’s a legacy,” penned the two-time Olympic medalist early this month as she stepped beyond the gymnastics arena. With her new mentorship program, Chiles aims to offer young gymnasts a platform to become ‘champions of life’. And in her first step in the movement, she has taken Simone Rose and Zoey Molomo under her wing, sending a message not only to them but to young dreamers across the world.
Speaking to the young talents in her newly released clip, Jordan Chiles asked, “Who are your Sheroes?” For 17-year-old Rose, it was her mother. “She’s inspired me through everything, supported me, and helped me through everything I have been through.” It was not much different for Molomo. “My mom and my older cousins… they have been like the best help.” The UCLA gymnast knows the role of steady helping hands a little too well. So while she nodded thoughtfully, Chiles couldn’t pick a name for herself. Instead, she expressed something heartwarming.
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“There have been a lot of sheroes in my life. There have been a lot of role models, a lot of people who have encouraged me,” she started. From her teachers in school, her aunt, and her friends, through the journey to Simone Biles herself, the Olympian has had support all along. In fact, when Chiles questioned if the gymnastics was for her, it was watching Biles living the moment on the mats that gave her a new perspective. When she was on the brink of giving up, the 28-year-old assured Chiles that she had the gift.
So, having experienced all the support and guidance, the Olympic gold medalist wishes to adorn the role for the young gymnasts. “I hope that the wisdom and talent they gave me, I can give to you guys. I’m so happy that you two are my first athletes to join me on this journey, on this new chapter,” she added.
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Both athletes represent the future of U.S. gymnastics. Rose has three gold medals from the 2024 Pacific Rim Championships—on the uneven bars, floor exercise, and in the team event. Molomo, on the other hand, has a gold from the 2022 Pan American championships. Aware of the rising talent, Chiles expressed, “We are all writing books; we are all continuing our story. I just want to let you guys know that I’m always here. I hope to continue to inspire you.”
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But for her, the roadmap goes far beyond medals. SHERO is designed to guide young athletes through the often-overlooked side of sports, leveraging NIL deals, building personal brands, mastering social media, and surrounding themselves with a strong support system. Well, apart from this, Chile never leaves any chance of motivating the youth.
What’s your perspective on:
Is the true measure of an athlete's success found in medals or the legacy they leave behind?
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“That is powerful. That is courage,” Jordan Chiles told young athletes at YMCA Nationals
Last month, Jordan Chiles stood before the athletes at the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships in Green Bay to speak about the importance of grit and the perseverance of gymnasts in the sport. r. The two-time Olympian expressed that medals and ranking will come to the one who triumphs through persistence, “If you are out there giving your all today, you are already winning,” she told them
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She further added, “Believing in yourself. Pushing through the nerves and the doubts and still stepping out onto the floor with your head held high. That is powerful. That is courage.” For those youngsters stepping onto a national platform for the very first time, Chiles’ voice carried the weight of experience.
Her message was clear: greatness isn’t defined by talent alone, but by the grit to push through pressure. As she embraces her journey as a mentor now, Chiles will focus on rewriting the next chapter of US Gymnastics.
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Is the true measure of an athlete's success found in medals or the legacy they leave behind?