Jordan Chiles is often spotted being the most bubbly and vibrant element in the team. With her unique flair, Chiles is always cheering up her teammates or pulling off mischievous stunts. However, behind the fun-loving gymnast, there was once a girl who struggled to keep her ADHD complications at bay. Thankfully, coming to her rescue was none other than gymnastics. The sport that actually went on to build her legacy as one of the finest athletes in modern-day gymnastics. Her journey to gymnastics ascension started at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In the absence of Simone Biles, Chiles delivered a fantastic performance to clinch the silver medal for her team.  Her stature only grew further as Chiles secured yet another Olympic gold medal in the 2024 Paris. However, things could have turned way more differently if Chiles had not adhered to gymnastics.

In her memoir I’m That Girl: Living The Power Of My Dreams, Chiles reflected on a number of important details of her life. The chief among them was her complications with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Detailing her condition, Chiles stated that she had problems in her childhood trying to curb her over-enthusiastic nature. That is when she came across gymnastics. It was not just another hobby, it was more than that.

“My sport saved my life. I had really, really 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,”. Surely, it was one of the biggest blessings for the Oregon  native as well as for the gymnastics fraternity. Because without the likes of Chiles gracing the sport, it would have been a big miss for the gymnastics fans. 

Chiles continued with the stories of her childhood. She narrated how she jumped from the cliffs to swim in the water. And while Chiles did not know whether she would become an Olympic champion, she definitely believed in herself. Chiles stated, “Did I think I was going to be somebody when I was older? 100 percent. Did I think it was going to be this way? No, not at all.” Ofcourse, Chiles not only made a name for herself, but she also ensured that her impact on the gymnastics realm will be remembered for a long time. 

Chiles’ resilience was pretty much on display after she was stripped off the Olympic bronze medal in Paris. But instead of getting pegged back, she powered through the pain and has now started to enjoy her duties as a NCAA athlete for the UCLA Bruins. 

From Olympic heartbreak to NCAA comeback: Jordan Chiles’ road to redemption

Four seconds—that’s all it took for Jordan Chiles’ world to shift from triumph to heartbreak. Standing on the Olympic podium in Paris, draped in bronze, she had finally clinched her first individual Olympic medal. But joy was fleeting. A CAS ruling stripped her of that hard-earned prize, dropping her to fifth place. The world saw the shock unfold, but only Jordan truly felt the weight of that moment.

In her memoir I’m That Girl, she recounted the crushing realization, “Suddenly, the car went quiet. I’m surprised everyone couldn’t hear the sound of my heart breaking, because it absolutely did, there in that back seat.” Silent tears filled the Uber ride as she processed the loss. But those setbacks couldn’t define the 23-year-old. Rather, they fueled her.

Instead of dwelling on what was taken, she focused on what was ahead. That meant returning to UCLA, a decision she made long before Paris. “No, it honestly wasn’t a hard decision,” she admitted, explaining that collegiate gymnastics offered a different thrill. For her, the NCAA was unfinished business. After winning two NCAA titles in 2023, she had put college on pause to chase her Olympic dreams. Now, she’s back, ready to don the Bruin gold and blue, and she isn’t holding back.

As she gears up for the 2025 NCAA season, Jordan embraces this new chapter with a fresh mindset. She knows the spotlight will follow her, especially with NIL opportunities knocking at her door. When a fan asked about breaking NIL records, she was all in. The road from Paris heartbreak to UCLA resurgence has been anything but easy, but Jordan Chiles isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. If anything, she’s just getting started.