Jordan Chiles: From Olympic Silver to NCAA Stardom and Beyond
Jordan Chiles has captivated the world with her exceptional journey in gymnastics. From her early days as an energetic child to becoming an Olympic medalist and NCAA champion, Chiles' story is one of perseverance, talent, and unwavering dedication. This article explores her remarkable career, her time at UCLA, and her future aspirations.
Early Life and Training
Born on April 15, 2001, in Tualatin, Oregon, Jordan Lucella Elizabeth Chiles displayed a natural inclination for gymnastics from a young age. Her parents, Timothy and Gina Chiles (née Velasquez), noticed her constant cartwheeling and hand-walking, leading them to enroll her in gymnastics. Her family gave her the nickname Chick, after the character Chicken Little.
Chiles' journey took a significant turn in 2019 when she moved to Spring, Texas, to train at World Champions Centre under coaches Laurent and Cecile Landi, alongside Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. This move proved pivotal in her development, allowing her to refine her skills and compete at the highest level. Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles are not only training partners, but good friends. Of Biles, Chiles told NBC Olympics in April: "This girl is beyond words. I wish people could truly understand who she is - and not just the gymnastics. She's the bestest friend I've ever had in my life.
Olympic Achievements
Chiles' Olympic journey began with the Tokyo Olympics, where she was a breakout star before the Olympic Trials. Although she did not qualify for any individual event finals, she rose to the occasion during the team final when Simone Biles withdrew from the competition. Initially slated to compete only on vault and floor exercise, Chiles stepped in to replace Biles in the uneven bars and balance beam lineup. She was a member of the silver medal-winning team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Her success continued as a member of the gold medal-winning team at the 2024 Summer Olympics. She was also a member of the team that won gold at the 2022 World Championships. Individually, she was the 2022 World vault and floor exercise silver medalist. She has been a member of the United States women's national gymnastics team since 2013.
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Collegiate Career at UCLA
Following the Tokyo Olympics, Chiles embarked on her collegiate gymnastics career at UCLA, where she studied business from the fall of 2021 to the spring of 2023. She quickly became a star for the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team. In NCAA Gymnastics, Chiles competes for the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team, where she has won two Pac-12, two Big Ten titles, and three NCAA championship titles.
During her time at UCLA, Chiles achieved remarkable success, including NCAA titles on uneven bars and floor exercise in 2023. She scored eight perfect 10s, with one on uneven bars and two on floor exercise during her freshman year in 2022.
Chiles' impact extended beyond individual achievements. She helped lift the UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics to their first major win of the year over the weekend, delivering a statement performance at the Best of the West Quad at the University of Washington. Chiles dominated every rotation, placing first on vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise, and winning the all-around with a 39.725. The floor exercise, however, is what truly stopped the room. The two-time Olympian debuted a brand-new routine that blended precision, confidence, and personality, earning a near-perfect 9.925. UCLA shared the routine on social media, celebrating the moment and her impact as a leader for the Bruins.
Setbacks and Resilience
Chiles has faced personal challenges, including her mother's time in federal prison following the Tokyo Olympics. In 2023, she also experienced the loss of her aunt and grandfather, which she described as mentally challenging.
Despite these difficulties, Chiles has demonstrated remarkable resilience. She withdrew from the 2024 Winter Cup due to a sprained AC joint but continued to pursue her gymnastics goals.
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Paris Olympics Controversy
Over the summer, REVOLT was present when the 24-year-old spoke candidly at the Black Excellence Brunch during the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, reflecting on the controversy surrounding her revoked individual bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics. Onstage, she called the experience “the biggest blessing in disguise that I've ever had to deal with in my life,” adding, “I became a New York Times best-selling author… I am a [Sports Illustrated] swimsuit cover nominee.
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. Although Chiles' initial score was not high enough to earn a medal, Chiles's coach, Cécile Canqueteau-Landi, submitted an inquiry on Chiles' D-score. The inquiry was accepted and Chiles' score was raised by a tenth. The Romanian Gymnastics Federation appealed this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), on the basis that the inquiry was submitted past the one minute deadline and therefore should not have been accepted. The CAS ruled that Chiles' coach had made the inquiry at one minute and four seconds, which was four seconds over the allowed time.
The controversy surrounding her revoked bronze medal led to legal battles and public debate. Despite the challenges, Chiles maintained a positive outlook, viewing the experience as a "blessing in disguise."
Beyond Gymnastics
Chiles' influence extends beyond the gymnastics arena. She signed a deal with Nike in 2023. Jordan Chiles is a fan of Spider-Man and her Olympic floor routine from 2021 was Spider-Man themed.
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She joined Simone Biles' Gold Over America Tour and participated in "Dancing with the Stars."
Chiles was named one of Time's Women of the Year for 2025 and was featured in the 2025 edition of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, 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. Nedoroscik's family ultimately won in the sudden death round. Chiles appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue in 2024, photographed by Erica Snyder.
Future Aspirations
Chiles put her studies on hold after the 2023 NCAA season to focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics. While she did not compete for UCLA during the 2024 NCAA season, she has expressed her love for the university and the possibility of returning. In April, Chiles told NBC Olympics: "As of right now, I'm not going to say anything. Obviously I do love UCLA. I love everything about it … Do I miss it? 100%.
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