Jordan Chiles has never been the type to hold back. On March 4, she dropped her debut memoir, I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams, a raw, unfiltered dive into her journey. Olympic highs? Crushing setbacks? That shocking 2024 Olympic bronze medal reversal? It’s all in there. And with a foreword by Simone Biles, this isn’t just a book, it’s a must-read. But that’s not all. Before the medals, before the spotlight, Chiles was just a fearless kid who never knew limits. She tried things most wouldn’t dare. Some left bruises!

Jordan Chiles was always the sporty kid who was out there climbing trees and getting dirty. When talking about her childhood with Sprinter Noah Lyles on his Podcast Beyond the Records, Chiles sums up her childhood in three words, “Home, Yep Up.” Born to Timothy and Gina Chiles on April 15, 2001, Jordan was born in Tualatin, Oregon but grew up in Vancouver, Washington.

In the podcast, she recalls all kinds of crazy stuff she did while growing up, including, “I bring insects home in my pockets.” Being born to an African-American father and a Latina Mother, Chiles had a multicultural upbringing that shows in her childhood. After all, little Chiles used to slide down snow-covered hills on the lid of trash cans. Talk about creativity. One more love she developed due to her background? Basketball, of course.

But again, is that so much of a surprise? After all, she was named after basketball legend Michael Jordan himself. She continued with, “I would play horse with my family.” But she wasn’t just playing for fun, she was making history in her own household. “I actually was the, the youngest to actually shoot a three-pointer out of the family.” She made sure everyone remembered that moment!

But basketball wasn’t the only thing she loved. She was a total daredevil. “What else was there? I don’t know. I just did some crazy stuff. I enjoyed it… Yeah. Outdoor.” Crazy stuff? Oh, she means things like riding motorcycles, zooming around on a moped, and flipping around on a hoverboard like she was invincible. And honestly? She felt like she was. “I was a, I was a reckless little kid. I just would try everything. I felt like I was invincible. Like why not try it?”

Of course, being fearless comes with a few scars. “Any bumps or bruises?” Noah asked. “Oh, of course. I think I cracked my head open one time.” No big deal, right? Just another day in the life of Jordan Chiles! But while Washington was full of fun, it also had its tough moments. The constant rain? Not her favorite. A rough coaching experience? Yeah, that made her want to leave. So in 2019, she packed her bags and moved to Spring, Texas, to train with none other than Simone Biles at the World Champions Center.

Jordan Chiles reflects on her childhood and path to gymnastics

Jordan Chiles is pure energy! Whether she’s flying high with jaw-dropping moves or keeping her teammates laughing, she’s always the life of the gym. But behind that big personality? There was once a little girl who just couldn’t sit still. Her mind raced a mile a minute, and slowing down felt impossible. So where did she find her escape? Gymnastics! It wasn’t just a sport for her, it was a salvation.

“My sport saved my life,” she revealed in her memoir I’m That Girl: Living The Power Of My Dreams. “I had bad ADHD when I was younger, and gymnastics helped me calm down. I fell in love with flipping around and doing crazy things. I always had a very spontaneous mind.” Jordan Chiles was always a fearless kid, the kind who’d jump off cliffs just to feel the rush of hitting the water!

She had energy for days, and she needed something to keep up with her. That’s where gymnastics came in. It didn’t just give her an outlet, and it gave her a purpose. It took all that wild energy and turned it into something incredible. Her big moment? Tokyo 2020. When Simone Biles stepped back, Chiles stepped up, delivering under pressure and helping Team USA take silver!

Fast forward to Paris 2024, and she was standing on top as an Olympic champion. But looking back? None of it would’ve happened without gymnastics keeping her on track. “Did I think I was going to be somebody when I was older? 100 percent,” she admitted. “Did I think it was going to be this way? No, not at all.”But fate had its plans. And in Jordan Chiles, gymnastics found a star who refused to be anything less than extraordinary.