Jordan Chiles has often recalled how she watched Simone Biles confront the weight of public expectation at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, an experience that left a lasting impression on her. Seeing her closest friend stepping aside from the all-around final and speaking candidly about the value of therapy left a deep impression. Biles’ words, “I thought I could figure it out on my own, but that’s sometimes not the case,” stayed with Chiles. But little did she know that she would have to lean on those words to navigate her complicated journey.

Unfortunately, Paris 2024 made her realize how it feels facing scathing criticism. After securing an Olympic medal, Chiles’ Olympic dream was cut short after having to relinquish the medal. Life took no time to throw one of the biggest challenges of her life. The Court of Arbitration for Sport transferred the medal to Ana Barbosu, leaving Chiles to admit, “The biggest thing that was taken from me was the recognition of who I was. Not just my sport, but the person I am.” Chiles later acknowledged that the medal controversy “took away the person I am.”

Thus, Chiles has now decided to approach well-being pretty seriously. Back in August 2025, the Olympian announced the Shero Athlete Collective. This initiative is designed to guide young women in sports through the business and the mental side of their careers. Chiles reflected on her latest perspective as she told Ariel Baker of Marie Claire, “I’m not super big into wellness trends, but I will say I had to learn to appreciate therapists. I had a sports psychologist when I was younger, and I didn’t like it because I didn’t see the point of talking to someone about my life. However, as I’ve gotten older, therapy has become something that I really advocate for, whether people are involved in sports or not.”

Her words echo almost precisely what Biles once admitted in 2021. The four-time Olympic champion told Glamour that she first resisted the idea of counseling, saying, “One of the very first sessions, I didn’t talk at all. I just wouldn’t say anything. I was like, I’m not crazy, I don’t need to be here.” However, later on, Biles did accept the value of those sessions, describing therapy as “a safe space.” Chiles finds herself on the same path, having reached the same conclusion. 

Sometimes, all it takes is opening up about your problems and making good use of therapy. These days, multiple athletes are prominent advocates of mental health. Take Michael Phelps, for example. When you think he won’t have stress or any anxiety, even the Aqua Gladiator had to take a step back and check on his mental health. With various examples, Chiles becomes the latest athlete to speak up on therapy.

TIME has listed Chiles as one of its Women of the Year. Not only that, but fans gave their acknowledgements at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit. Surprisingly, all these shining accolades could have easily been eclipsed by darkness, as Chiles’ childhood is heartbreaking.

How did Jordan Chiles turn her darkest thoughts into strength?

Jordan Chiles revealed the most painful chapter of her life in her memoir, explaining how years of verbal and emotional attacks from a coach she referred to as “Coach X” drove her to the brink. She wrote that the environment left her questioning her worth and fighting constant pressure on her body, race, eating habits, and performance. “I wanted to let people know that I had really, really down times. I’ve been in the dark, I’ve been in the deepest part of the ocean,” she said back in February, describing the weight of her suicidal thoughts during that period.

Chiles recalled how she learned to restrict her food intake and overcome the criticisms to get leaner. Unfortunately, eating so little led her to feel hungry later, as she binged on food. She admitted she was never formally diagnosed with an eating disorder. “It took me a while to really find the love of food,” she explained, adding that she was working to rebuild a healthy balance.

Writing the book forced her to confront memories she had long buried. But Chiles let the demons of her past come out in public. “At first it was hard, but I’m happy now that people get to read it and understand, and hopefully that gives them the confidence to be like, ‘You know what? Maybe I need to talk about something [too],’” she reflected.

It’s incredible to see athletes endure pain and mental exhaustion even after training to be great. Therefore, a fragile mind remains a cause for concern, as working towards a goal like Chiles could bring success.