In nine days, we will have to bid 2024 adieu. However, this year has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Jordan Chiles. The gymnast entered her second Olympic berth and successfully snatched the team’s all-around gold medal, concluding Team USA’s redemption tour. As exciting as that was, things didn’t go her way in the individual competition. After winning bronze in the women’s floor exercise due to her coach’s appeal, the gymnast eventually was stripped of it by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

But after going through a tumultuous time, she has one thing to look forward to. The Olympian decided to shift her focus and energy to a different area. What could that be? The 23-year-old now looks forward to enjoying a fruitful collegiate career with the UCLA Bruins. Even though it took a while to find her way back to the Pauley Pavilion, the gymnast has a few words of wisdom to share with her younger teammates. What did she have to say?

Jordan Chiles basks in the confidence of her experience

Many don’t often get to represent their nation on the world’s biggest stage. However, Jordan Chiles has been there and done that twice. Even though she claimed team gold in the French capital, the 23-year-old has some unfinished business on the mat. During a training session with the UCLA Bruins, the gymnast seemed to have taken on the role of Master Shifu. How, you ask? In a video uploaded by Big Ten Gymnastics on X, she imparts some of her wisdom, “I wouldn’t be the two-time Olympian that I am today if it wasn’t for me realizing that this sport has more to it than just being, you know, gymnastics,” the gymnast exclaims.

After slowly losing her love for the sport, the 23-year-old realized an essential factor. Winning medals is always great, but having fun while they compete is just as important. The 2x Olympian emphasizes the strict routine she followed in her freshman year. However, the gymnast eventually realized that she wanted to have fun with the sport while she was in college. Isn’t that the whole point? She seemed to believe so.

While Jordan Chiles reiterated that enjoying their freshman year in the sport is essential, she also opened up about the flip side of the coin. “Who cares what other people say? Like, who cares what people are saying about, you know, all the ‘Team this’ and all this stuff like they are the ones doing what you are doing, you know what I mean? Like that’s how I see it,” she exclaimed. People will always talk, no matter what.

But even though she didn’t have control over that, what she did focus on was how to block the noise. “Are they the ones on the apparatus?” the gymnast questioned. The Olympian has had her fair share of experience with trolls and wanted to take on the role of her teammates’ mentor to help them get past that. On the other hand, the experience with social media has left the Olympian with a bad taste in her mouth. Does she harbor any negative emotions towards it?

The gymnast’s harrowing social media experience left her frustrated

Jordan Chiles stunned the crowds as she stood on the third step of the Olympic podium after an incredible floor exercise routine. Yet, the 23-year-old could barely bask in glory before the CAS stripped her of the honor. While that was heartbreaking, several trolls on social media had a field day, attacking her amidst the bronze medal controversy. As a result, the gymnast announced that she would step away from the platform to look after her mental health.

While the Olympian kept her word momentarily, she eventually began attending events and posting on the platform. Does that mean she doesn’t feel the same way about social media anymore? Apparently not. The UCLA star was a part of the 2024 Black Entrepreneurs Day and opened up about her issue with the platform. Chiles confessed to Daymond John that she didn’t like social media. This is solely due to how people perceive an individual differently.

What does she mean by that, you ask? Jordan Chiles believes that regardless of what one posts, people will often resort to judging the individual. One of the many instances was when she was attacked after her Paris Olympics stint. Not only did she receive a lot of hate during that experience, but many often threw racist comments her way.

All of this only added to her woes and often made the Olympian wish she could teleport. Every time she encountered a mean comment, the 23-year-old had this incessant urge to travel to the troll and enlighten them about their negative and wrong perceptions. “You’re judging them based on a picture, not because of who they are, what they’ve done in their lives, their life stories, their future, or their business,” she exclaimed. Even though Chiles had to go through this experience, she intends to help her younger teammates navigate through this if and when the time comes. What do you think of the gymnast’s new role?