UCLA Gymnastics: A Legacy of Olympians

The UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics team boasts a rich history of success, consistently producing athletes who excel on the national and international stage. Representing the University of California, Los Angeles, the team competes in the Big Ten Conference and calls Pauley Pavilion home. Since 1984, UCLA has been represented at every Olympic Games, with the exception of 1988. This article delves into the program's Olympic legacy, spotlighting the Bruins who have proudly represented their countries on the world's biggest stage.

A Tradition of Excellence

The UCLA Bruins gymnastics program has long been recognized for its commitment to excellence, attracting top talent and fostering an environment where athletes can thrive. This dedication has translated into numerous championships, individual accolades, and a consistent presence in the upper echelons of collegiate gymnastics. The program's success is built on a foundation of strong coaching, rigorous training, and a supportive team culture.

The UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics team has achieved significant milestones over the years, solidifying its position as a powerhouse in collegiate gymnastics. Some of these achievements include:

2009: The Bruins secured their 14th Pac-10 title, demonstrating their dominance in the conference.
2010: The team clinched its 15th Pacific-10 Championship, with Anna Li achieving a perfect 10 on uneven bars.
2015: UCLA captured its 21st Regional Championship, highlighting its consistent performance at the regional level.
2018: UCLA won their seventh NCAA title in St Louis.
2019: UCLA won the Pac-12 championship with a score of 198.4, setting a new Pac-12 Gymnastics Championship record.
2025: In its first season in the Big Ten Conference, UCLA won its first-ever Big Ten regular season title and conference championship title.

Jordan Chiles: A Bruin Shining on the Olympic Stage

One of the most recent and prominent examples of UCLA's Olympic legacy is Jordan Chiles. Born on April 15, 2001, Chiles is an American artistic gymnast who has achieved remarkable success on both the collegiate and international levels.

Early Life and Career

Chiles was born in Tualatin, Oregon, to Timothy and Gina Chiles (née Velasquez). She has been a member of the United States women's national gymnastics team since 2013. She made her international debut at the 2014 City of Jesolo Trophy.

Collegiate Career at UCLA

In NCAA Gymnastics, Chiles competes for the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team. She joined the Bruins gymnastics team in December. She made her NCAA debut on January 17, 2022, in a meet against Iowa and Minnesota, where she only competed on the uneven bars and vault. On February 4, in a meet against Utah, Chiles earned her first collegiate perfect ten on floor exercise. In her time as a Bruin, she has won two Pac-12 titles, two Big Ten titles, and three NCAA championship titles.

International Success

Chiles's international career has been marked by significant achievements, including:

2020 Summer Olympics: Silver medal in the team competition.
2024 Summer Olympics: Gold medal in the team competition.
2022 World Championships: Gold medal in the team competition, silver medal on vault and floor exercise.

2020 Tokyo Olympics

At the Olympic Games Chiles performed the all-around during qualifications. During the team final Chiles was initially set to compete only on vault and floor exercise. However, Simone Biles withdrew from the competition after the first rotation and Chiles replaced her on uneven bars and balance beam. She hit both of those routines despite not having warmed up on either, but fell on her third pass on floor exercise.

2022 World Championships

In October, Chiles was selected to compete at the 2022 World Championships alongside Skye Blakely, Jade Carey, Shilese Jones, and Leanne Wong. During the qualification round Chiles helped the USA qualify to the team final in first place. Individually she qualified to the vault and floor exercise finals.

2023 Pan American Games

In September, Chiles was named to the team to compete at the 2023 Pan American Games alongside Kayla DiCello, Kaliya Lincoln, Zoe Miller, and Tiana Sumanasekera. While there she helped the USA win team gold ahead of Brazil.

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2024 Paris Olympics

At the Olympic trials, Chiles finished third in the all-around, as well on uneven bars and floor exercise, and second on vault. During the qualification round at the Olympics, Chiles competed on all four apparatuses. She ended the day ranked fourth overall; however, she did not advance to the all-around final due to the limit of two athletes max from the same nation competing in the finals; Biles and Lee placed higher. Additionally, she placed fourth on vault but again did not qualify to the final due to Biles and Carey placing higher. Chiles went on to compete in the floor exercise final.

Overcoming Challenges

Chiles's journey has not been without its challenges. In 2023, Chiles's aunt and grandfather died, and she shared how mentally challenging that time was with the official Olympic channel during the 2024 Games. Following the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Chiles’ mother served time in federal prison for embezzlement. Despite these personal hardships, Chiles has demonstrated incredible resilience and determination, continuing to excel in her sport.

Recognition and Accolades

Chiles's accomplishments have earned her widespread recognition and accolades. She was named one of Time's Women of the Year for 2025. She was featured in the 2025 edition of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and was selected as one of four cover models alongside Lauren Chan, Salma Hayek, and fellow gymnast Livvy Dunne. Chiles and her family appeared on the September 11, 2025 episode of Celebrity Family Feud where they competed against fellow 2024 Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik and his family.

Other Notable UCLA Olympians

While Jordan Chiles is a recent standout, she is part of a long line of UCLA gymnasts who have achieved Olympic glory. Other notable Bruins who have competed in the Olympics include:

Jamie Dantzscher
Mohini Bhardwaj
Kate Richardson
Tasha Schwikert
Kristen Maloney
Yvonne Tousek
Stella Umeh
Luisa Portocarrero
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs
Sam Peszek
Peng Peng Lee
Jennifer Pinches
Jordyn Wieber (former Bruins team manager and volunteer assistant coach)
Kyla Ross
Madison Kocian
Brooklyn Moors
Emma Malabuyo

These athletes have represented various countries and have contributed to the rich tapestry of Olympic gymnastics history.

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