The ballroom fell silent as Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and her professional partner, Ezra Sosa, took their final pose. The stillness was broken by a wave of applause and the sight of perfect 10s flashing on the judges’ scoreboard. On a pivotal night in the season, Chiles had achieved a near-perfect score of 39 out of 40 for a captivating Rumba set to “For Good” from Wicked, tying for the highest mark of the evening and signaling a major breakthrough in her artistic journey on the show. The emotional weight of the moment, however, extended far beyond the numbers.

In an interview with Access Hollywood’s digital correspondent Lauren Herbert, following the performance as seen on their YouTube channel, Chiles revealed a certain nature of the achievement. The key to this sentiment was seated at the judges’ table: acclaimed director Jon M. Chu. For Chiles, his presence created a powerful bridge between her past and present. Chu, the visionary behind the Wicked film franchise, was not just a celebrity guest judge; he was also a witness to her previous athletic triumph, having been present at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“It honestly is a really, like, it’s a full circle moment,” Chiles told Herbert. “I honestly am so honored to have Jon in the seats. Like, judging us. And he knew what he was talking about, which was really cool because he’s in that world. He’s in that director, you know, era of his career.” This specific expertise made his feedback incredibly valuable. Chiles was deeply moved that Chu could see the same fierce determination in her eyes during the Rumba that he had seen on the Olympic floor.

“And just to be able to get that feedback from him, knowing that he could see my eyes like I was, you know, on the Olympic floor, just means everything because this week, honestly, was a hard week, not just for me but also for Ezra,” Chiles added. The gymnast shared that she and Sosa were determined to channel their challenges into their art, aiming to create a dance that, despite its slow and controlled nature, would resonate on a deep, emotional level.

“We really wanted to make this a dance that everybody could feel,” she explained. “Although it’s a slow dance, like, we still wanted to make it, like, something everybody can feel and really can touch to. So, it’s an honor, literally.”

The same focus that propelled her on the vault and floor exercise was now being channeled into the nuanced storytelling of the ballroom, proving that her ability to connect and excel, regardless of the stage, is truly what makes her a champion. So, what exactly did the judges say about this mind-blowing performance?

Jordan Chiles and her DWTS partner captivated the judges

Getting that first perfect 10 from multiple judges is definitely a tough challenge. But when Jordan Chiles and her DWTS partner Ezra Sosa hit the stage, you never know what might happen!

Guest judge Jon M. Chu, who directs the “Wicked” movie franchise, compared Chiles’ enthusiasm to the hard work shown by the leading ladies in his films. He said, “I feel very lucky to be here in the presence of you. When I see Cynthia and Ariana, the big trick is that they work their butt off. They’re competitive and yet they make it seem so easy. I feel that in you. I saw you at the Olympics in Paris. I saw your eyes there, and tonight, I saw those eyes again. You want to win this thing, I can tell.”

Also, judge Bruno Tonioli said, “Wickedly good and drop-dead gorgeous. You how we kept saying to you the movement has to go from the body through the arms to the legs. You had it there. The performance, the focus. Cynthia would be proud.” In week six of the season, all 10 couples took to the dance floor, showcasing their moves to songs from “Wicked” and the much-anticipated sequel, “Wicked: For Good.”

Chiles and Sosa scored 39 out of 40 points, tying with television personality Whitney Leavitt and her professional dance partner Mark Ballas for the highest score of the night. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba was really impressed and said, “I just have to say to you, it was perfection.”

Chiles really nailed it with a perfect blend of athletic skill and artistic flair, showing that her champion’s spirit goes way beyond just gymnastics. We’ll just have to wait and see how many amazing performances she and her DWTS partner will bring in the next few days.