How do you measure success? By medals? By magazine covers? By the weight of expectations a single athlete carries on their shoulders? If that’s the case, Jordan Chiles is at the top of the world—right? At just 23, she has become more than just an Olympic gold medalist. She’s a Sports Illustrated star, a Nike icon, and even a published author, this NCAA season has only solidified her reputation as one of the top gymnasts in the country and a force to be reckoned with– I mean two perfect tens? But not all of it has been nice.

 2024 was a rough year for the Oregon native. The year tested her in ways even she couldn’t have imagined. A controversial ruling stripped her of her hard-earned Olympic bronze, leaving her in an ongoing legal battle for justice. What secret mindset has helped her turn setbacks into comebacks? Well, Jordan Chiles is finally ready to tell the world.

For Chiles, failure serves as a necessary gateway that leads to better outcomes. “Failing sucks, but it isn’t a bad thing. That’s what I was taught. We don’t live in a utopia. Nobody’s perfect,” she told TheCut.com in a candid interview. Chiles stands by this because she has faced disappointment when missing her national team assignments while failing to get into the world championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019. But she kept those setbacks within her grasp and turned them into valuable lessons. According to her, failure does not represent the conclusion of anything but the fuel that pushes her forward.

For Jordan Chiles, failure is a launching pad. “It’s okay to fail because it’s only going to uplift you to succeed in a different way,” she added. Every routine that didn’t go as planned pushed her to modify her routine for a stronger comeback. Failure, in her eyes, isn’t about losing. It’s about learning. And that mindset? That’s what sets her apart. After all, even if she couldn’t make it into the national team to compete at the global level for three consecutive years, she redeemed herself by securing a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics soon after. What’s more, her contributions helped the team clinch silver. But here’s a question, how does she balance Olympic success with collegiate excellence?

Amid a hectic schedule, the gymnastics sensation has to give her mental wellness priority. Praying and keeping close to her family has also helped her immensely. Moreover, she makes sure to focus her undivided attention on one thing at a time, “When I’m at the gym, I focus on the gym. When I’m with my publicist or my agent, I focus on business.” The skill of separation has come in handy for the Oregon native. After all, there must be something right about her approach because it has worked out phenomenally for her! Her performances on the mat are proof enough.

Jordan Chiles’ unshakable spirit: The fire that keeps burning

While Chiles delivers outstanding artistic performance, her impact on her UCLA teammates is more meaningful than her achievements. Her coach, Janelle McDonald, saw it firsthand. “She’s only been back with us for a few weeks, but she has this ability to just elevate the room around her. She brings this energy and this passion to the table each and every day that inspires the people around her. And it’s really cool this year seeing that she’s taken all the experiences that she’s had and brought them in as a leadership role,” McDonald said. As a performer, Chiles possesses a strength that maximizes the potential of everyone in the team. That kind of infectious energy is bound to resonate with everyone. Her leadership moves further than delivering routines, it’s about going above and beyond for the team.

This was evident when No. 2 UCLA gymnastics faced the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines. The Bruins began their competition on the uneven bars and then tragedy occured, Jordan Chiles experienced a violent tumble while performing her piked Tkatchev. Sports journalist Aaron Doyle documented the event as an awful incident, but Chiles scored a 9.150 even though the point did not count in UCLA’s event total. Such an intense fall would normally make individuals lose their confidence, but Chiles showed no signs of hesitation. Remember her point about failure being her launchpad to success? Well, she proved the same in that showdown.

With her mind set on a victory, she performed outstanding vault passes in the second round, scoring an impressive 9.950. She proceeded to the next event by performing an amazing floor routine, which received an outstanding 9.975 score. Talk about a comeback! If one fall couldn’t shake her, what can? This kind of resilience that turns setbacks into stepping stones is so inspiring. One can’t help but wonder—what’s next for Jordan Chiles?