What does it mean to leave a legacy? The answer isn’t just in the medals or the perfect 10s for Olympic champion Jordan Chiles — it’s about impact, longevity, and staying power. Sound familiar? It should. Because if there’s one name in sports that defines reinvention, it’s Serena Williams. Williams built an empire beyond her 23 Grand Slam titles from the courts of Compton to global boardrooms. And Chiles? She’s watching, learning, and dreaming just as big.

Williams isn’t just a tennis icon. She has set a blueprint for athletes redefining their careers beyond sport. From investing in startups to owning a piece of an NWSL team, she’s built an empire stretching far beyond the baseline. And for Jordan Chiles, that’s exactly the legacy she hopes to create.

“Business-wise, I have to say Serena Williams,” Chiles said to Forbes when asked who she looks up to. “Serena Williams, business-wise, she has done so much. And when I mean so much—didn’t she just—yeah, she purchased a team?” she added. 

Williams, a part-owner of Toronto’s NWSL expansion team, has continued to make waves long after her legendary tennis career. And for Chiles, that kind of staying power is exactly what she wants for herself. “She’s a part owner of Toronto, and I’m literally like, ‘This lady has done so many amazing things, not just within her career but also with just keeping her name in the loop.’ And I think that’s just so amazing because I want to be able to do that,” Chiles said.

“I want to be able to continue on, you know, whenever my career does come to an end and people still know, ‘Oh, Jordan Chiles did this. Jordan Chiles did that,'” stated Chiles, who wants to reach the stars. It’s refreshing to see the ambition the athletes have to grow beyond their comfort circle.

It’s not just about business, though. Williams’s influence on Chiles extends beyond ownership deals and investments—it’s about being a powerhouse both in and out of sport. “So she’s definitely somebody I do look up to from a business standpoint,” Chiles said. “But also as an athlete, you know.”

Chiles, who won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, returned to familiar territory—UCLA gymnastics and has set the season on fire, already scoring two perfect 10s. She returned to UCLA for the 2025 season after competing in 2022 and 2023. “I’m a college student now. That’s crazy to say, right?” Chiles laughed. But for her, it’s about growth—not just as an athlete but as a person.

“Yes. But if you think about it—we were just talking about this, right? People were—we were just talking about how Megan, yeah, was a college student. She graduated. How Kendrick—people—that whole picture that went all over Twitter and TikTok, he—you know, getting your degree isn’t going to change who you are, whether you’re a rapper, whether you’re an athlete, whether you’re becoming a doctor, or any of those things. It’s just going to give you more knowledge, and you’re going to retain a lot more things,” concluded Chiles.

Speaking of gaining more knowledge and excelling in different fields, Jordan Chiles continues to shine, not just in gymnastics, but she also secures her fifth UCLA Gymnastics honor. Raising the game eh?

Jordan Chiles earns 5th UCLA gymnastics honor

Jordan Chiles didn’t just win Gymnast of the Week, but she made it a practice. Five times this season, she was the Big Ten’s best, each time another notch above. It started on January 14. Chiles introduced herself in the conference with a 9.975 on floor, 9.925 on vault, and 9.850 on bars. It’s the first Big Ten Gymnast of the Week of her career. But one wasn’t enough!

Hungry for more, she was back at it, making history in Maryland. Chiles received 10 on uneven bars—her first of the season and ninth of her UCLA career. That’s sixth all-time in program history. Add in her all-around dominance? The Second Gymnast of the Week was a done deal.

Then February rolled around. Pressure rising, expectations growing, but Chiles thrived. In the season’s biggest moment, she needed a minimum of 9.925 on floor to secure the win. Instead, she got a 10. With it, she won the meet for the Bruins, in addition to the third Gymnast of the Week by February 6.

Her fourth? That came soon after. Chiles was unstoppable, scoring a season-high 39.600 in the all-around. She tied first on bars with a 9.975, added a 9.950 on floor, and was third on vault. Another week, another honor. The glory train keeps puffing away!

Then, the exclamation point—her fifth Gymnast of the Week award. A 39.550 all-around, another 9.950 on bars, and her eighth consecutive floor victory. More than just numbers, it was a statement: Jordan Chiles had owned this season.