Jordan Chiles recently lost her maternal grandfather, Gene Velasquez. The gymnast, who won the silver medal in the women’s team competition at the Tokyo Olympics, posted an update on Instagram. In it, she confessed she could not believe the loss of one of her most prominent cheerleaders. Chiles admitted she felt it was a dream.

Jordan Chiles tossed her Thanksgiving plans aside to rush to her grandfather’s side after he landed in the hospital. She welcomed the start of the holiday season with a gift basket full of Jacques Torres chocolates. With the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon, Chiles mourned her loss. Her mother, Gina, shared a memory featuring her dear departed father.

One of Jordan Chiles’ biggest cheerleaders

Jordan Chiles shared a story on Instagram featuring the image shared by her mother. The image had Gene Velasquez holding the silver medal his granddaughter won in the Japanese capital. Added to that were the words, “My Dad was so proud of @jordanchiles. We came home late one night from a gymnastics competition. When we pulled over into our driveway, we saw something waving around in the front yard. It was a single Gold #1 balloon tied down with a hand weight. He wanted everyone in the neighborhood to know.”

READ MORE: After Jordan Chiles Fails to Make the Cut for World Championships, Olympic Gymnast’s Mother Drops a Reality Check

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Jordan Chiles is very close to her grandparents on both sides. Given that, the loss hit her particularly hard. All her grandparents are big fans of her talent and its expression in gymnastics. Her grandmother, Gloria Chiles, a resident of Florida, gave voice to her obvious pride in the 22-year-old after her silver medal in Tokyo. Besides her achievements on the mat, the gymnast also got to fulfill a lifelong dream during Thanksgiving.

Bucket list item scratched off during Thanksgiving

Jordan Chiles got to represent the Olympics in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She appeared alongside Paralympians, Ezra Frech and Jessica Long. Chiles wanted to dig into the delicacies from Jacques Torres afterward but had to cut that short owing to her grandfather’s condition.

Read More – “Hospital for My Grandpa”: Jordan Chiles’ Thanksgiving Cut-Short As Health Concerns Force Gymnast To Pray for the Best

Jordan Chiles had a time when she wanted to quit gymnastics. She moved to Texas to train with her best friend, Simone Biles, under the watchful eye of the Landis. Her mother, Gina, too moved to be close to her daughter. Tim, her father, joins them periodically but still calls Vancouver, Washington, home. Family support is something she counts on. She will look to honor her grandfather in the City of Light next summer.

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