“She really wanted cotton candy,” said Jordan Chiles’s mother, replying to an X post after the Michigan meet. And we can’t agree more after the year she had in 2024 and the one she is having currently—exhausting, challenging, learning, rewarding, rising, and everything at once. Jordan Chiles is now active on multiple fronts. She has already had a legal battle going on over the ownership of the bronze medal from the Paris Olympics women’s floor exercise. On the other hand, she has an immense responsibility to help the UCLA Bruins take up the title of the national gymnastics championship. But in the journey, she has received love and support from multiple fronts, from her mother to coaches to Simone Biles to her fans. And now in the ever-growing list, another name has been added!

Yes, on February 27, here aunt Celeste D. Chiles shared a long post on Instagram revealing true emotions for her niece. In the post, she attached a snap of Jordan’s book, ‘I’m that girl: Living the power of my dreams.’ In the post, she wrote, “Thank you for following the lead of the greats that came before you and thank you for creating a new and even greater path for those to come! You have not only revolutionized the culture of Women’s Gymnastics but you have also made a great contribution to how the world views a Black woman!”  Jordan’s aunty described the gymnast’s multifaceted and extraordinary career. But how has she performed those in reality?

Look at Jordan Chiles’s journey and you might have an idea. Coming from a biracial family in Vancouver, Washington, and making a name on the gymnastics mat doesn’t come regularly. But Jordan Chiles has it. She has shown the courage to reach the grandest stage of the sport, despite having a start marred by unwanted criticism. Not only that, in her earlier career, Jordan’s identity faced unwanted questions, enough to bring her down to her knees. Example? Read her words in Teen Vogue, published in July/August 2024. 

In the interaction, Jordan made some shocking revelations. Regarding the question of her identity, she recalled instances from the gymnastics competition played in her childhood. Per her, in those meets, she had to hear derogatory words. Her childish mind failed to get the meaning of most of those words hurled at her. But Jordan certainly remembers a few. And that memory led her to say, “I’ve been told that my mom wasn’t my mom. I’ve gotten told that I wasn’t Black.” From such a condition, she is now one of the flagbearers for the Black women in American gymnastics. How?

According to available data, in 2022–23, the percentage of Black women constituted 8% of the total NCAA women gymnasts. In that 8%, Jordan was someone who had unprecedented success in the UCLA Bruins’ jersey. Not only in 2023 but in 2025 also, she has been showing the fireworks, enough to count her distinctly. You can consider her performance and struggle in elite gymnastics.

Last year in the Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles saw both ends, success and failure. She helped the Team USA women’s gymnastics squad win the team gold in the final. In fact, her 3rd place victory in the women’s floor exercise event gave birth to an all-Black podium for the first time in women’s gymnastics at the Olympics. But the position came at risk because of the legal struggle. 

Since September last year, Jordan Chiles has been fighting her battle to prove her side. She has found Team USA with her. But the final decision has yet to come. The Swiss Court has still been hearing the arguments and nobody has a clear idea about the exact judgment day. Nonetheless, Jordan Chiles is not giving up. Would it be easy for an ordinary individual? You can decide. But her steps equal the words her aunt said—”how the world views a Black woman.” And in the coming days, she might achieve something huge in college gymnastics, a milestone for all the Black gymnasts out there. 

Jordan Chiles might land the opening title 

If you know Jordan Chiles’ story, it is full of resilience and power. She is that girl who has yet to lower her guard while fighting new battles each day. Critics? She has no lack of it. Fans? She has been gathering more in the college gymnastics. UCLA Bruins’ home turf, Pauley Pavilion, knows it better. Look at the number of footfalls in the Bruins’ matches. But there’s something more. 

In the coming days, Jordan Chiles might achieve the Big 10 Specialist of the Year award. Yes. As her performances are falling on the mat, the Washington native has the dominant chance to snag it. But is there any award by that name?

NCAA announcer Olivia Karas gave a hint of it in the latest episode of ON THE FLOOR with Liv & Cor. “There’s never been a specialist of the year that’s going to change this year there’s going to be a Big 10 specialist of the Year award,” she said. With two perfect tens and four gymnastics honors in this season so far, Jordan Chiles has no rival in the distance. So is another accomplishment coming her way? Well, for Celeste Chiles, Jordan is already a hero.