Jordan Chiles has been a strong name in the USA’s gymnastics scene since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Initially slated to compete solely in vault and floor exercises during the team final, Chiles found herself thrust into a pivotal role when Simone Biles withdrew from the competition after the first rotation. Despite not having warmed up on either uneven bars or the balance beam, Chiles delivered exceptional routines, showing her talent and composure under pressure.

Despite a minor setback with a fall during her floor routine and Biles’ unexpected withdrawal, the United States women’s team secured the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Now, three years later, the 23-year-old gymnast is gearing up for her second Olympic cycle at the Paris Olympics. However, despite the silver medal win in Tokyo, did you know that Paris’s dream seemed unlikely to her?

Jordan Chiles opens up about how her Paris Olympics dream seemed unlikely

In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, three prominent USA sportswomen, Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles, and Kristie Mewis, opened up about their journey in preparing for the Paris Olympics. A moment in the interview stood out when Jordan Chiles, the 2022 World Vault and Floor silver medalist, spoke about her mindset since the Tokyo Olympics. Chiles revealed, “After Tokyo, I didn’t think I was going to go for Paris.”

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Following the 2021 Olympics, she pursued her education and collegiate gymnastics career at UCLA. Jordan’s mother, Gina Chiles, opened up about this time to The Daily Bruin in an interview, saying,  “She was like, ‘Nah, I’m done done. After the Olympics, I’m going to go and do UCLA and then I’m done.’” However, after two years with the UCLA gymnastics team, Jordan’s perspective shifted. She realized, “I’m not done yet… Let’s just go for it again. Let’s try for Paris.” So, what changed to lead her to this decision?

Why was she disheartened despite earning a silver Olympic medal in Tokyo?

Despite winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Jordan Chiles felt disappointed because she didn’t perform as well as she wanted. She had been incredibly consistent leading up to the Olympics, hitting all 24 routines she competed in without a single fall. However, in Tokyo, she fell twice during qualifications, missing out on the all-around finals.

She knew she could’ve done more, given her competitive spirit. After the Olympics, she planned to retire from elite gymnastics and attend UCLA, seeking a new experience in NCAA gymnastics. Her freshman season at UCLA didn’t meet her expectations, but with the arrival of a new head coach, Janelle McDonald, Jordan’s doubts began to fade. She still felt she had unfinished business in elite gymnastics, having never made a World Championships team despite numerous attempts.

With the encouragement of her coaches, Jordan decided to give elite gymnastics another shot. In 2022, at the World Championships, she won team gold and individual silver medals. Despite her doubts about returning to UCLA for her sophomore season, Jordan was persuaded by her elite gymnastics coaches, Cecile and Laurent Landi, to give it another try.

Her decision proved to be the right one, as she achieved remarkable success during the season. Jordan played a pivotal role in leading UCLA back to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2019. She continued to excel with the Bruins, scoring eight perfect 10s, becoming a nine-time All-American, and the 2023 NCAA uneven bars and floor exercise champion. In March 2023, Chiles announced her decision to leave UCLA.

She expressed her desire to take some time for herself and transition her training base from Los Angeles to Texas to prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics. While she remains focused on training for the Paris Olympics in 2024 and hopes to win a gold medal, Jordan hasn’t made a final decision about returning to UCLA after the Olympics. Her journey to her second Olympic cycle truly demonstrates that she is “not done yet.” Fans are hopeful that she will find redemption the second time around. What are your thoughts? Comment below!