Representing your nation on the world’s biggest stage isn’t an easy feat. However, Jordan Chiles has had the privilege of stepping on the world’s grandest stage not once but twice! During her debut at the 2020 Games, the gymnast clinched an all-around Olympic silver amid a thunderous cheer. But she wanted more. So, she prepared for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as did the rest of the final five, who eventually dubbed the stint their redemption tour. 

Team USA successfully bagged the women’s all-around Olympic gold, fulfilling the one goal they had. But now it was time for her to add another individual medal to her collection. Unfortunately, even though she made it to the women’s floor exercise finals podium, it came at a cost. After the dust settled on the gymnastics leg of the Paris Summer Games, the 23-year-old embarked on the second edition of the Gold Over America Tour. But it is finally time for her to return to a life of normalcy. Or is it?

Jordan Chiles is yearning for a simpler time

The 2024 season has been quite a rollercoaster for the gymnast. She had her fair share of ups and downs throughout. However, it is finally time for her to return to where it all began. Jordan Chiles is switching the red, white, and blue to the Bruin blue and gold. But as exciting as that, the Olympian dreaded one particular thing. She wasn’t looking forward to any special treatment for the two years she would be at UCLA. “I’m not going to have you bow down to me or anything like that. Because there’s no need,” she admitted to US Weekly. 

Yep, you heard that right. The 23-year-old isn’t too keen on being treated a certain way. When she was asked if anything would change, she didn’t hold back. “I think being able to separate my normal life and my sport life, I can kind of navigate myself differently. I like being able to be myself and be the person that I am because I really can go into a room and be like, ‘I’m just a normal person,'” she confessed. Shortly after her Parisian stint, the gymnast had something exciting lined up for fans. 

Jordan Chiles announced that she would be rejoining the University of California to represent the Bruins for the two remaining years of college. This would be a great opportunity to monetize her NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness). On September 9, the 23-year-old reiterated that she looked forward to doing as many deals as possible. But while she’s excited to return to Pauley Pavilion for the NCAA season, she just wishes for some normalcy. 

“I honestly told myself starting my freshman year when I went school that I was just a normal kid going onto campus,” she admitted. The Olympian is so afraid of things changing that she’s even asked her teammates and classmates to treat her like a normal college student. “Yes, I went to an Olympic Games and all this stuff, but I’m still just like you guys. I’m getting an education, I’m getting a degree.”

On the other hand, she recently had an exciting time returning to college life. What was the 23-year-old up to? 

The gymnast makes a stunning UCLA senior day return

Jordan Chiles momentarily stepped away from collegiate gymnastics during the 2024 season. She ensured that she put all her energy into preparing for the Paris Games. The gymnast even trained alongside her compatriot and BFF Simone Biles at the World Champions Center (WCC) in Spring, Texas. But now that the Summer Games are done and dusted, she is back into the mix, ready to take the Bruins back to the top.

The gymnast enjoyed the “normal” college life she yearned for on November 30, when she attended the Rose Bowl. She shared a story from the official UCLA Athletics Instagram account. What was it about? They’d captured the Olympian in the middle of the football ground as she threw up a heart-shaped pose for the fans. But this wasn’t it. In another story, kids looked at the gymnast like she was made of gold while the crowd cheered for her in the background. 

While Jordan Chiles is still getting used to getting asked for pictures, she’s looking forward to enjoying her time at UCLA. Even if she was hyping up fans and enjoying herself at the game, this is exactly what the Olympian was looking forward to. But turns out, the 23-year-old is exactly what UCLA needed.

The game was pretty intense, but she happened to be their lucky charm. After a long and hard battle with Fresno State, UCLA emerged victorious with 20-13. Even though they struggled in the first half by scoring just six points, they overcame the nerves later in the game. With this, their season ended on a high note with 5-7. However, now that the 23-year-old has returned home, things seem to be looking pretty bright for UCLA.