The 2024 Paris Olympics had several twists and turns. But for her second berth, Jordan Chiles experienced several highs and lows. The 23-year-old embarked on a Redemption Tour with Team USA after their second-place finish in the Japanese capital. While they reclaimed the gold medal in the team all-around finals, the gymnast went on to clinch a bronze medal and stood on the podium with Rebeca Andrade and Simone Biles on August 5.

But days after that historic moment, the gymnast faced a heartbreaking situation. After Romanian officials requested a hearing, the Court of Arbitration concluded that the Olympian would have to return her bronze medal, reallocating it to Romanian runner-up Ana Barbosu instead. Even though the incident hasn’t been put to rest, the 23-year-old recently received a massive honor.

Jordan Chiles has been deemed a leader in the sport

On November 3, Ebony Magazine’s official Instagram account shared a post about their 2024 #EBONYPower100 Leaders in Sports nominees. The incredible lineup includes individuals who have showcased great leadership on the field and have created a stronger community through their excellence. Guess who made it on this prestigious list? That’s right, Jordan Chiles.

The lineup also includes a stellar mix of athletes across various categories, like Dawn Staley, A’ja Wilson, Stephen Curry, and more. However, Jordan Chiles stands out as the only individual from gymnastics in this group. The blurb on their official website speaks for itself. “Chiles has consistently showcased an unmatched level of mental perseverance while also establishing herself as one of the world’s top gymnasts.” The gymnast has consistently pushed through adversity, setting the pace for body positivity and mental health.

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But let’s not forget about Dawn Staley! The basketball coach led the University of Virginia to their first and only NCAA championship appearance as a player. However, that’s not all. She changed the course for the South Carolina Gamecocks by leading them to three national championships. In fact, she has been the only professional or collegiate black basketball coach to clinch multiple victories. Staley has also been a driving force for pay equity for all women’s sports. Now, what if we tell you this isn’t the first time the duo has shared the stage?

Jordan Chiles and Staley collaborated on a WWD cover shoot organized by Nike. Even though the latter has racked up several accolades of her own, she was surprised to see the gymnast’s success. Upon meeting the 23-year-old for the first time, she couldn’t help but describe the Olympian as magnetic. “I like to hear the story behind how she’s elevated herself to stay at the top of her game,” Dawn Staley admitted. Yet, the gymnast’s nominee couldn’t have come at a better time.

The bronze medal controversy was a harrowing experience for the 23-year-old

On August 5, Jordan Chiles claimed her first individual medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women’s floor exercise. But this moment became even more iconic when she, along with Simone Biles, bowed to the gold medalist, Rebeca Andrade, as she made her way over to the top step of the podium.

The image and podium had etched themselves in the history book for more than one reason. This also happened to be the first all-black podium in the Games’ history. As incredible as that is for the sport, many weren’t too pleased by the results. Part of this could be due to the appeal by Cecile Landi, which eventually re-evaluated the gymnast’s score.

But another, more harrowing experience was due to many believing that the Games had excluded certain gymnasts from medals. This could have also been an indirect dig towards Jordan Chiles herself. The attacks were slow, but eventually the Olympian found several more comments, personally attacking her during an incredibly difficult time.

As a result, the gymnast decided to take some time off social media. However, her mother, Gina Chiles, wasn’t impressed. She voiced her sentiments on X, stating, “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.” While the experience was gut-wrenching for the 23-year-old, she finally received her flowers with a mention on Ebony Magazine’s list.