Honestly, the LA wildfire situation is just unreal. It is being called the worst disaster in the city’s history, and it’s hard not to agree with that. 16 lives were lost, thousands of homes gone, and massive areas of land burnt. And it all started in Altadena on January 7, but when those 80 mph winds kicked in, everything just spiraled. The flames spread into places like Malibu and Palisades, causing so much destruction. And even though it’s been five days, it’s still getting worse, which is wild.

So, Jordan Chiles’ UCLA had to extend remote learning through January 17 because of the fire’s path. But you know what? NCAA is still on! Despite all that, Jordan Chiles didn’t let it hold her back. After that tough season opener on 4th January, she came out swinging in her second NCAA meet and used her gymnastics performance to send a message about the wildfire, which proves after every storm, there’s a rainbow.

Jordan Chiles steals the show with a near-perfect performance

Jordan Chiles took the spotlight at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, and honestly, it was hard to look away. After a tough loss on January 4, when the Bruins went up against California and Oregon State in the American Gold Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Classic, it felt like a bit of a setback. But what a difference a week can make! The Bruins bounced back! Fast forward to January 11, and UCLA was facing Kentucky, Ohio State, and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

This time, it was Jordan Chiles who shone. She put up near-perfect scores that helped the Bruins walk away with a win. Their score of 197.550 was enough to push them past their ranked opponents. One of the most beautiful moments came when Jordan hit a 9.975 on her floor exercise, just 0.025 away from a perfect 10. Can you imagine? She was so close to becoming the first ever to score a 10 for UCLA in gymnastics.

But even without that perfect score, it was still huge. Her 9.975 helped the team rack up a 49.600 in the floor exercise. But Chiles’s performance didn’t just stay in the stadium; it hit social media too. Gymnastics_now shared some of her floor moves on Instagram. The post captioned it with: “Did it for LA ❤️ UCLA earn the third highest score in the country so far this season (in Week 2), with a 197.550. Only the past two national champions, Oklahoma and LSU, have earned higher. Jordan Chiles won the floor title with a near-perfect 9.975.” It wasn’t just about the score; it was a reminder to everyone who is right now in the LA wildfire.

But this took us back to the Paris Olympics, where Jordan’s floor routine was a standout, but sadly, she was stripped of her bronze medal because her coach’s appeal was filed too late. With other current NCAA performances, though, she sent a message that LA needed to hear, Which is clear that even after the hardest storms, the sun will shine again. But even with that hope, it doesn’t stop Jordan Chiles’ mom from worrying about her daughter’s safety.

A mother’s worst fear

Jordan Chiles, living in Los Angeles while competing for the UCLA Bruins, has always had her mom, Gina, by her side through everything. And with Jordan living so far from home, it’s only natural for Gina, who’s based in Spring, Texas, to worry about her daughter’s safety, especially with the LA wildfire getting so intense. Seeing the flames spread, Gina was understandably anxious, but she did share a little relief with everyone when she updated her Instagram on January 8, 2025: “So devastating… Jordan is safe, just watching closely. It’s really smoky and has bad air quality.”

Amid all the chaos, Jordan kept her fans updated too, taking to Instagram with a heartfelt message. “My heart is broken but also want to say I am safe… I am praying for everyone,” she wrote on January 8. Even with everything going on, she stayed strong and kept thinking of others. Meanwhile, UCLA is still pushing forward in the Sprouts Collegiate Quad, with the Big Ten Championships on March 22, NCAA Regionals from April 2-6, and the NCAA Championships from April 17-19 all on the horizon. We’re all hoping to see Jordan light up the floor with more of those outstanding performances as the season moves forward!