Jordan Chiles has already done more than most of us will in a lifetime! At just 23, she could have been a three-time medalist if not for a technicality that cost her a bronze at the Paris Olympics. But did that slow her down? Not even close. Since then, she’s been in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition, starred in Nike’s Super Bowl ad, and made Time’s “Women of the Year” list. But getting here wasn’t easy—it took heartbreak, setbacks, and moments where she almost quit. Still, she pushed through—because losing? That’s just not her style.

Recently, Nike Women interviewed Jordan Chiles on Instagram and asked, “When did you realize you hated losing?” Surprisingly, her answer wasn’t about competition—it was about losing her passion for gymnastics. She recalled a moment in 2017, during high school, when she felt disconnected from the sport she once loved.

“The first time I truly felt like I lost wasn’t about a medal; it was about losing my love for gymnastics. I didn’t even realize that was something you could lose. But I found that love again, and now, here I am.” But what happened in 2017 that made Chile almost quit? She has been flipping, twisting, and proving people wrong since she was six. Her parents, Timothy and Gina Chiles, saw her potential early, and by 11, she was already competing at the elite level.

At 12, she made her first national team, racking up awards before even finishing high school. But the road to the Olympics wasn’t smooth. In 2017, she almost quit gymnastics entirely—not because of injuries or burnout, but because of the criticism she faced. People tore her down for her muscles, her body, and even her hair.

“Every single time I went into a competition, I was like, ‘Well, what are they going to say this time?’” she said. She was called too muscular, too different, not the “typical gymnast.” Even her eating habits were scrutinized. “You’re telling me I’m not going to have muscles when I’m throwing my own weight around?” she said. “God created this body for a reason, so I’m going to use it.” Eventually, it all got to her. Feeling like she no longer belonged in the sport, she seriously considered walking away. But then came the goat to rescue!

Simone Biles throws Jordan Chiles a lifeline!

Then Simone Biles stepped in. Hearing that Chiles was thinking about quitting, Biles invited her to train at the World Champions Center, the gym run by her parents in Texas. Two days after graduating high school, Chiles packed her bags and took the leap. And it changed everything. “I discovered that gymnastics doesn’t have to be about strictness and doubt,” she told The New York Times.

Watching Biles compete, she saw something new—joy. “

She looks like she’s having fun out there, laughing and giggling. I was like, ‘You know, I’m going to try that one day and see how it turns out.’” Turns out, it worked. In 2021, Chiles placed third at the Olympic Trials, securing her spot on the Tokyo team.Then, Tokyo threw an unexpected curveball.

Biles, the team’s leader, withdrew due to mental health struggles, leaving Chiles and her teammates to step up. And they did. The U.S. still walked away with team silver, while Suni Lee won all-around gold. Meanwhile, Chiles fiercely defended Biles against critics. “I’m going to support her no matter what. I am her teammate. I’m her best friend,” she said. But then in Chiles’ second Olympics?

And in Paris, Jordan Chiles’ world flipped in just four seconds. On August 5, 2024, she stood proud, a bronze medal around her neck, making history on an all-Black podium in women’s gymnastics. A sudden CAS ruling took away her medal, which changed happiness into deep pain. But Chiles still didn’t give up and is fighting back for her medal!!