Jordan Chiles Outlines Biggest Advice for Younger Self for Past Act She Would Aways Avoid

From her standout performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to becoming one of the brightest stars in gymnastics, Jordan Chiles has spent much of her young life in the public eye. As her career soared, so did her presence on social media, where she’s had to navigate both the perks and pitfalls of fame. Recently, she opened up about something many of us can relate to—those moments when you look back at and wish you could hit delete. So, what exactly did she say?

Jordan Chiles has been a Nike athlete since 2023, and with that comes a little extra fame and, of course, some cool perks. Recently, she chatted with marathoner Becs Gentry for the second episode of Comfort Zones with Nike on YouTube. The tagline of the show? “The shoes are comfortable, but the questions are not.” Living up to its reputation then, the UCLA Bruins star, Jordan Chiles talked about more than just shoes—she also tackled some pretty tough questions. When Gentry asked her, “You’ve been in the public eye for a while now—what would you tell younger Jordan not to post?”

Jordan Chiles paused for a moment before saying, “Throwback photos with your finger on your face.” If you’re a fan of Chiles, you’ve probably seen these throwback pics where she’s got her finger on her face, doing all sorts of goofy, spontaneous poses. It’s kind of her thing. But as she’s grown, it seems like she’s starting to feel a little awkward about those old posts, like maybe they don’t quite fit with the person she’s becoming.

We’ve all been there—posted something without thinking, only to cringe later. For her, it was those carefree moments when she was still figuring herself out. Fast forward to today, and her social media is booming with 1.5 million followers, two Olympic medals, an NCAA star title, and now, she’s a debut author. As a full-time student-athlete and trendsetter, she’s got a lot on her plate. But with the spotlight comes the pressure; she’s had to navigate some backlash before for her posts, so she’s learned to tread carefully.

When the going gets tough, as social media takes a toll on Jordan Chiles

Jordan Chiles faced significant backlash after the 2024 Paris Olympics when a procedural error led to the Court of Arbitration for Sport stripping her of her bronze medal. The controversy escalated when her mother, Gina Chiles, condemned the rac**lly charged comments directed at her daughter on social media, saying, “The racist disgusting comments are still happening in 2024. I’m tired of people who say it no longer exists.” Jordan herself took to Instagram to express her pain, writing, “This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow…the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful.”

The wave of online abuse became so overwhelming that Chiles decided to step back from social media, prioritizing her mental health. She posted, “I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health thank you,” signaling the toll the constant harassment had on her well-being. Despite this, she remained determined to fight for the integrity of her journey, emphasizing, “I will never waver from my values of competing with integrity, striving for excellence.”

Jordan Chiles’s experience shows the emotional impact of online hara**ment on athletes, particularly when faced with rac**l discrimination. In the face of these challenges, she received support from teammates and the larger gymnastics community, including Simone Biles, who wrote, “Sending you so much love, Jordan. Keep your chin up, Olympic champ!” This incident shows how social media can be both a source of support and a platform for harmful behavior. And Chiles knows it very well.