Saturday night’s highly anticipated UCLA-Utah gymnastics showdown took an unexpected turn when Jordan Chiles, one of the most consistent performers this season, delivered a surprisingly shaky floor routine. Things didn’t miss Assistant Sports Editor for the Daily Bruin, Aaron Doyle’s eyes. He took to X shortly after her performance, noting, “Some uncharacteristic mistakes from Jordan Chiles on floor, stumbling out her dive roll (probably the easiest skill in her routine) and then landing short on her final tumbling pass.” Concerning?

For a gymnast of Chiles’ caliber, such mistakes felt out of place. As the anchor of UCLA’s floor lineup, she carried the weight of delivering a big score to help the Bruins close the gap after a sluggish start in the first two rotations. She stepped onto the floor with determination, attempting a double-twisting Yurchenko—her first of the season. But instead of igniting momentum, things unraveled.

The Olympian under-rotated, hopped back on her landing, and later, stumbled out of her dive roll—a move so basic it left the packed Jon M. Huntsman Center in disbelief. It was a rare off night for someone who has elevated the floor exercise event to new heights in collegiate gymnastics this season. So, what happened? Chiles’ routine was hit with three major deductions: 0.1 for a step, 0.1 for over-rotation, and a significant 0.5 for her dive roll. Fans and analysts alike began to speculate—was she injured? Was fatigue setting in at the worst possible time, with the Big Ten Championships just a week away?

As whispers of concern spread, Chiles’ mother, Gina, stepped in to provide some clarity. Late that night, she posted on X: “Seeing worried comments—Rest is always good, but just for clarity—she fell off her scooter in the rain and hurt her tailbone this week. So she is feeling it on every event. Running on vault and floor passes and especially when she hit it on the dive roll. She’s ok—just hurts.” That revelation put things into perspective. The pain from the injury likely affected Chiles’ landings, explaining her unusual struggles. But with the postseason fast approaching, the question remains: Will she have enough time to recover and regain her dominance before the championship stage?

A million-dollar question with no obvious answer—will Jordan Chiles recover in time for the Big Ten Championships? And here’s the frightening part: Saturday night’s struggles weren’t just limited to the floor exercise. According to Deseret and Utah Gymnastics sports writer Trent Wood, Chiles was already in visible discomfort before her floor routine. The Olympian limped off to the tunnel during warmups, the pain so severe that she had to step away for a few minutes before returning to compete. Yet, despite everything, she still managed to put up a 9.825. Did that effort come at a cost?

It certainly seems so. But this is where the team management had to step in—was UCLA willing to push their star gymnast through more pain just a week before the biggest meet of the season? The answer was a firm no. Chiles was notably absent from the balance beam lineup in rotation four. The Bruins’ coaching staff made the call to sideline her, likely to prevent any further risk to her injury. Had they forced the issue, it could have put an even bigger question mark on her postseason availability. But now, UCLA faces a different dilemma—what if Chiles isn’t ready for their next meet? Who steps up in her place? 

If not Jordan Chiles, then who?

“I was just like you know what. I’ma forget that in the past I’m here on the team. We’re gonna go out there and do everything that we need to do.” Those lines came from someone who scored a perfect ten in the floor exercise event this season, despite having weakness from a high fever. Yes, it was Jordan Chiles! And she said so on February 1 right after dropping her second perfect ten this season. Sounds unbelievable, right? So never, ever keep ‘that girl’ out of the discussion. But if at the last moment, things go the other way, then replacing an Olympian will not be an effortless task, but UCLA does have options. 

Senior Emma Malabuyo, known for her elegant execution and poise, could take on additional responsibilities. Let’s not forget Ciena Alipio, a junior who’s been in high-pressure situations before, and on Saturday she scored 9.900 in the beam event—the same Jordan Chiles slipped. Also, there’s Emily Lee and Chae Campbell. Right? 

Still, no matter who steps up, there’s no denying that UCLA’s best shot at a strong postseason run includes a fully healthy Jordan Chiles. The big question now—will she have enough time to heal before the championships? The clock is ticking!