“I have no words,” said Jordan Chiles after her final round medal was snatched away. She was beaming when Team USA gymnasts competed in their event in Paris. With Chiles winning the bronze and bowing down to Rebeca Andrade, things looked perfect for the 23-year-old. That is when fate decided to play some weird tricks on her. Within days, Chiles came to know that the Court Of Arbitration for Sports had revoked her bronze medal! Heart-broken, Chiles went into depression. However, with the help of her BFF Simone Biles and others, she was able to overcome it. Deep down though, Chiles was pretty much disturbed. But, time heals everything, even bronze-blues. 

She recently appeared in the Beyond The Records podcast with Noah Lyles. While discussing. About a host of topics, Lyles asked Chiles how she has been dealing with her Paris fiasco. Well, the gymnast’s answer was quite straightforward. She said, “Okay, yes that was Paris great cool have fun we’re living life now I’m just going to keep pushing forward because I have more life to live I’m not going to let this little piece of my story take the rest of my life because I have more to it.” Lyles was quite impressed with the reply. He immediately said that in most cases, athletes find it hard to let go. 

As Lyles asked what gave the gymnast strength to overcome her obstacles, Chiles pointed to her teammates at UCLA. She narrated how she was scared to step inside of a gym. Chiles recalled, “I was terrified of even getting on an equipment I was terrified to even compete and because I didn’t know what people were going to say what people were going to do.” With a lot of things coming to her mind, it was her teammates who constantly provided her the much-needed mental support. However, apart from her teammates, other variables too gave Chiles the confidence to embrace new beginnings. 

During the Paris controversy, Chiles received a lot of flak from the fans. However, when she got out to compete for the Bruins, she got to witness the other side of the coin. Chiles was emotional, seeing so many rooting for her. She had an epiphany. “My whole entire team just made me realize that’s how much support I had when everything was happening happening and I was finally able to put my heart back together and be like – Jordan embrace everything that is happening around you embrace the fact that you have people who are standing their ground.” She knew she could not sulk clinging to the dark past. 

“The let go part is going to be that, you know, that was like a piece of the devil sitting on my shoulder, that whole entire time for no reason, like, there was no reason for him to be sitting there when I know that I know what’s right, I did everything right,” said Chiles. It’s pointless to be gloomy when you’re true. Meanwhile, as the UCLA Bruins gave her a new lease of life, Jordan Chiles too, had a lot to say about her new roles at the NCAA level.

Jordan Chiles embraces new leadership role at UCLA overcoming challenges

Jordan Chiles is stepping into a new chapter with the UCLA Bruins, taking on a leadership role that could define the team’s trajectory this season. The Bruins ended at a disappointing third-place finish at the American Gold Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics. Despite the same, Chiles remains a steady force as the team regroups. And the UCLA girls were then aiming for a stronger showing in the coming weeks.

Returning to UCLA after her Olympic stint, Chiles understands the weight of her experience. Thus, she is ready to guide her younger teammates through the pressures of NCAA competition. “So it was definitely interesting to kind of be in a different role, but I kind of liked it,” Chiles admitted, highlighting her shift from star performer to mentor. Her presence and composure were evident during the Bruins’ recent Meet the Team event, where she praised the team’s chemistry and support system. “Everybody looked really happy. Everybody looked, you know, nice and present when it was needed, cheering each other on. So, I’m really, really proud of them for that,” she said.

Kaylen Rosen echoed this sentiment, reinforcing the team’s determination to improve. “We definitely want to make our mark on the Big Ten,” Rosen said. “But again, the focus isn’t on the other teams. The focus is on what we are going to do.” This internal focus, combined with Jordan’s leadership, positions the Bruins to bounce back and challenge for the top spot in the NCAA.

As Chiles balances her personal drive with the team’s collective goals, her evolution from Olympic contender to collegiate anchor signals a pivotal season ahead. With the Big Ten Championship next on the schedule, the Bruins set for success. And Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles is indeed at the heart of that mission.