Jordan Chiles still holds onto a piece of advice that her coach, Cecile Landi, once gave her during a tough day in the gym: “If this is what you want to do, then do it.” Those words stuck with her, pushing her through the highs and lows of her gymnastics career. For years, Chiles had to endure relentless criticism from her ex-coach. Hell, she even thought of taking her own life! The toxic environment was weighing heavily on her, making every training session a battle. Chiles is in a much better place today! And trying to find “a healthy balance” once again in life has opened up heartbreaking experiences.

In an interview with People a few hours back, she disclosed details about the horrific experience she had to go through with her former coach, whom she calls Coach X. She shares that Coach X’s verbal abuse extended beyond gymnastics, demeaning her appearance and skills while fostering an environment of fear and self-doubt. “I wanted to get it off my chest. I wanted to let people know that I had really, really down times. I’ve been in the dark, I’ve been in the deepest part of the ocean,” Chiles explained. According to what Chiles stated, the said coach constantly attacked her race, her body, her eating habits, her whereabouts, and her performance.

To make matters worse, Jordan Chiles also reveals that her ex-coach was an alcoholic, which intensified the mistreatment. She was never formally diagnosed with an eating disorder but had developed unhealthy eating patterns to meet her coach’s unrealistic expectations. But every dark chapter has to come to an end, and switching to Cecile and Laurent Landi and WCC became a turning point in her career.

“They are the most amazing coaches. It’s hard to explain how they changed me. I don’t think I knew about [this kind of] support that you can get in a sport. They’re like second parents to me,” says Chiles. Under their influence, Chiles did not just emerge as a rising star in U.S. gymnastics and earned medals for the country, but she also started her healing process.

Her story has deeply moved fans, with one person commenting, “Whew! This is tough! I’m so sorry that you went through this!” This was just the start, as fans continued to rally behind her, offering words of encouragement and support as she shared her truth. 

Fans come forward to share their love and support for Jordan Chiles 

After learning about the dark details of her gymnastics career, fans continue to rally behind Jordan Chiles and show their unwavering support for her. One fan commented, “Yes she didn’t get to go to worlds that year because of it. I want to say 2015?” This comment may hold some truth, as the World Gymnastics Championship did take place in 2015 and Chiles wasn’t part of it. She also competed in the US Classics the previous year, achieving an eighth-place all-around finish and a third-place finish on the uneven bars. 

But we don’t know exactly why she skipped the 2015 WC or her former coach’s involvement. Moving to the next comment, one of the concerned netizens wrote, “I really hope she stays with the sport and coaches when she retires (but please don’t retire!!).” Given her ability to inspire and uplift others, many believe she could be an incredible mentor to younger athletes. She has previously stated her love for mentoring young gymnasts and helping them when she partnered with Toyota’s Need A Nudge campaign in 2022.

Another fan emphasized, “We definitely need people like her to be coaching our young gymnasts,” which highlighted how Chiles’ journey serves as a testament to perseverance and overcoming adversity. Under the coaching of Landis, Chiles’s gymnastics career soared. She competed in key events such as the National Championships and the World Championships and made crucial contributions in helping the U.S. team win multiple medals. Thus, Jordan knows what a good coach can do, and that is what probably fans feel too.

Fans continue to celebrate the positive strides Chiles has been making. One fan noted, “It was great seeing her get a cotton candy at the end of the UCLA at Michigan meet. I love Jordan as a gymnast and a person,” showing that she has resonated with people beyond just her athletic achievements. On February 23rd, at a meet against Michigan, Chiles fell during her first routine but bounced back harder but still ended up receiving a 9.150. She further went on to participate in all the apparatus and registered an impressive all-around score of 38.925. This would have earned her a ‘cotton candy.’

Despite the challenges she faced early in her career, she continues to rise, proving that she is more than her past struggles. Her story serves as an inspiration to fans and fellow athletes alike, showing that with the right support and determination, it’s possible to overcome even the darkest of times.