“You only have one life to live and we don’t have nine lives.”  Jordan Chiles follows those lines like a guiding light in a dark-filled lane. But at the same time, she knows that the surrounding people have also not come with nine lives to this land of prosperity. They can leave her and this world anytime, as life is not a matter of eternity. This is a hard truth, as hard as it can startle a firm believer in hope in Jordan Chiles, and mind you, it did just in a penultimate moment. Even though it hit her so badly, the former world champion didn’t see any hope of continuing with her dream, i.e., making it to the Paris Olympics. 

In a podcast with Kim Hamilton Anthony, Jordan Chiles narrated such an experience fresh in her memory. Last year, she was hesitant to extend her elite gymnastics schedule because of the outsider clamor. She felt it was like a burden on her as she would have to justify her Tokyo Olympics achievement in the upcoming Paris one as well. However, Jordan’s mental storm touched another level because she lost two of her relatives at the same time.

“That were really dearly close to me- my aunt and my grandpa in the same year,” as she mentioned about the incident. She wouldn’t like such an outcome in her life, as it was almost about to jeopardize the entire situation. Remembering those gloomy moments, she could only concede in that podcast, “This doesn’t feel right whatsoever.” Not just that, the 23-year-old had another fateful experience waiting for her to make the situation worse. 

While speaking to Kim, Jordan Chiles narrated another unheard incident from last year. It included her sister. The incident also kept her crumbled, questioning her dream to continue with elite gymnastics. Notably, in 2023, after a thorough discussion with every stakeholder from her personal and gymnastics life, Jordan decided to shift to elite gymnastics entirely, leaving her University of Southern California gymnastics days behind. But the back-to-back occurrences left her thinking about the viability of her decision. Describing that phase, the Pan American Games medalist stated, “I was in hospitals because of an incident with my sister so like my whole year was just you know, crazy.”

Eventually, Jordan Chiles made her comeback, moving all the questions aside. In the 2023 Pan American Games, she helped the USA gymnastics team win the gold medal in the women’s category. In the individual events like in the all-around and vault events, she left her mark with winning bronze and silver medals. Coming back to 2024, Jordan Chiles has proved that she is that girl. Furthermore, defying all odds, the Oregon native is now on full pace ahead with her Paris Olympics ticket. But she hasn’t put a lid on her personal losses. 

Jordan Chiles wants to march forward with the inspiration 

Jordan Chiles’ grandfather, Gene Velasquez, was a motivating factor in her life. Delivering on her experience with Gene, Jordan Chiles once stated, “He was very supportive, and every single thing that he saw on the internet or me on TV, he’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, that was you! That’s so crazy.’ ”. She further added, “My favorite thing about him is that he was somebody that whenever times were hard, he knew how to lift you up.” Jordan lost him, and with that, all those cords that used to connect her with Gene Velasquez. 

But she is yet to lose her connection of soul with her grandfather. Two days after Gene’s demise, she took her sisters and cousins to a tattoo parlor to do something memorable. All they got was inked with Gene’s favorite quote on their arms- “Where you are I have been, Where I am, You will be.” Those lines still shelter her in her moments. On her connection with her aunt, Crystal Oliver, Jordan Chiles has a sad memory. 

The memory plays with such a pang of sadness that while replying to questions like, “If you could go back to one moment in your life, what would that moment be?”Jordan Chiles could take her aunt’s name only, crying profusely. She has to apologize to her aunt, but unfortunately, her aunt is no more. With these emotions rooted in her heart, Jordan Chiles has to walk on with her life. Thankfully, she is that girl who knows this fact.