In August 2024, Jordan Chiles revealed she was stepping away from social media, citing the intense backlash she faced during the legal dispute over the women’s floor exercise bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Initially declared the winner by the jury, Jordan later lost the medal to Ana Barbosu after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The reversal sparked public criticism, prompting Jordan to post an Instagram story with a black screen, stating, “I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you.” The backlash harmed her mental peace. Tara Davis-Woodhall was also impacted by the wave of online negativity and struggled to find peace.

Following the Paris Olympics last year, Tara Davis-Woodhall and her husband, Hunter Woodhall, faced criticism after announcing plans to launch a documentary series about their journey. When the project failed to fruition, Hunter posted on Instagram Threads, “No one picked it up, guess a long jumper and a Paralympian wasn’t a compelling enough story. Woulda been rad tho.” The comment sparked backlash, with one Reddit user calling their reaction “bratty and entitled” for expressing disappointment publicly. The criticism quickly escalated, and the couple—often dubbed the Golden Couple—found themselves under fire. Now, both Tara and Jordan Chiles have opened up about those challenging moments and how they managed to get through them.

At the Variety Sports Culture Happy Hour presented by Uber Advertising—held on June 17 during the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France—both athletes spoke candidly about their personal journeys. Tara Davis-Woodhall shared her perspective, saying, “We’re putting ourselves out there and, honestly, it fuels the hell outta me when someone says I can’t do something.” She also described the tone of her social media platforms: “My Facebook is very polished, my Instagram is good, then TikTok is unhinged.” While she finds TikTok especially chaotic, Jordan Chiles has chosen a different path. She’s embraced a reality where she keeps her gymnast persona largely off social media, opting for a more personal and less performance-focused presence.

When asked if her approach was meant to avoid public scrutiny, Jordan Chiles didn’t give a direct answer. Instead, she said, “You go on my social media, you’re gonna know I’m a dog mom. You’re gonna know that I love fashion.” Her goal, clearly, is to highlight the more relatable, human side of herself. She confirmed this, saying, “I don’t want you just to think of me as Jordan Chiles, a two-time Olympian who did this, that and the other in gymnastics. I would like for you to understand that I like watching other sports. I would like for you to understand that Uber Eats is literally the only app I have on my phone.” These days, she’s back on social media but stays away from controversy, avoiding any heated discussions or conflicts. Through it all, she’s had steady support from her mother, Gina Chiles, who continues to stand by her.

The bitter side Jordan Chiles and Tara Davis-Woodhall had to see

For Jordan Chiles, the backlash didn’t stop at the courtroom—it got personal. Beyond the legal dispute over her Olympic bronze, she found herself under fire for her appearance and even her identity, with hurtful comments questioning personal details that had nothing to do with gymnastics. Thankfully, she wasn’t alone in the fight.

In a rare move, both USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee stepped forward to defend her. “Throughout the appeal process, Jordan has been subject to consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks on social media. No athlete should be subject to such treatment. We condemn the attacks and those who engage, support or instigate them,” their joint statement read. 

Jordan’s biggest champion, though, was her mother, Gina Chiles. Taking to X, she didn’t hold back: “The racist disgusting comments are still happening in 2024. I’m tired of people who say it no longer exists. My daughter is a highly decorated Olympian with the biggest heart and a level of sportsmanship that is unmatched…and she’s being called disgusting things.” Meanwhile, Tara Davis-Woodhall and her husband, Hunter, had their own run-in with public opinion. After voicing their frustration over Michael Johnson’s track-focused investment—arguing it sidelined field athletes like Tara—the couple faced a brief wave of backlash. But unlike Jordan’s storm, theirs passed quickly, with things settling down within days.

Still, the message is clear: even Olympic medals don’t shield athletes from the harsh glare of the internet. But with strong voices behind them—and each other—Jordan and Tara continue to rise above it all.