For most athletes, the ultimate moment of recognition comes with a medal, a trophy, or their country’s anthem echoing through a packed stadium. But for Jordan Chiles, who already holds an Olympic gold, it was a sudden burst of emotion in a restaurant. Tears flowing, screams echoing, and stunned diners pausing mid-meal. It marked one of her most unforgettable victories yet.

The gymnast, known for soaring through the air is now gracing newsstands with an equally powerful statement as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover star. “I literally started bawling my eyes out. My mom screamed. Everybody in the restaurant was like, ‘oh, what just happened? What is happening?’ My sister was just literally in awe,” Chiles told PEOPLE. “I think that’s where they realized, I have established so much within my life, but these little things are what make it even better,” the Olympic gold medalist added. Chiles, 23, is making history not just with flips and landings, but now with a swimsuit and a smile. 

Sharing the cover with icons like Salma Hayek Pinault, Olivia Dunne, and Lauren Chan; the moment was more than just a modeling milestone. It was personal redemption. Her journey to the spotlight hasn’t been one paved in gold. Rather, it was riddled with insecurity, body-shaming, and painful memories of being made to feel like an outsider in her own sport.

As a young gymnast, Chiles was told she didn’t ‘look the part.’ She was weighed constantly, policed what she could eat, and was even mocked by spectators. And these kinds of judgments left deep scars. Food became a source of anxiety. Ice cream, once a treat, became a test. Even today, she says she’ll sometimes stop halfway through a meal, haunted by past criticism. She had to unlearn these habits and began seeking help from a national team sports psychologist, slowly rebuilding confidence.

Now, she owns every part of who she is. A gymnast, survivor, and now, a cover girl. And that peace didn’t come easily, but it shows now. Not just in medals, but in magazine pages. For Chiles, it wasn’t just about landing the cover. It was about rising above everything that once tried to keep her from it. Meanwhile, continuing to amaze people with her aura, Jordan Chiles has still kept her LA28 doors wide open!

Is Jordan Chiles already gearing up for one more Olympic run in LA28?

Jordan Chiles isn’t done dreaming big. Just weeks after winning an Olympic gold in Paris, the 24-year-old gymnast already has her eyes set on something even closer to home, Los Angeles 2028.

In the whirlwind aftermath of Paris, which included a national tour with Simone Biles and a historic NCAA season, most athletes would be content taking a bow. Not Chiles. Reflecting on her back-to-back NCAA uneven bars titles, she said, “It just makes me hungry for more… maybe I can do it three times, four times, as many times as my body allows it.” But that hunger isn’t just about college gymnastics. It’s also about what might be ahead in her elite career.

Jordan confirmed she’ll be back at UCLA for the 2026 NCAA season, her senior year. What comes after? The Olympic flame still burns. “It’s on my mind,” she admitted. Jordan added, “It’s not completely out of my head. I still think about it.” With LA28 set in her adopted hometown, the pull is hard to ignore. 

For now, Chiles is taking a breather, a month off, including a trip to Miami with her teammates. But don’t mistake rest for retirement. She’s not closing the door on her Olympic journey, not yet.