Taking a leave off her college duties for the 2024 season to prepare for the Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles returns to campus for the “Meet the Bruins” quad event. Faced with disappointments after being stripped of the bronze medal in the Olympics, the comeback performance reflected quite the potential that the gymnast still holds.

Entering the new year with a strong comeback in one highlighting event, not much of the NCAA competition remained for her to participate in. While coming off with some successful wins and devastating losses, Jordan Chiles’s career as an artistic gymnast under UCLA holds prominence not just for her individually but also for the team.

Chiles as a reliable source for UCLA

Jordan Chiles’s contributions have been a key factor in the University of California, Los Angeles, upliftment today. In respect to that, the gymnast receives an honourable mention for her share of hard work given to the team. The message came from none other than her head coach, Janelle McDonald, who states that Chiles’s potential and achievements come as a key factor in the team’s on- and off-the-mat prominence.

“She’s only been back with us for a few weeks, but she has this ability to just elevate the room around her. She brings this energy and this passion to the table each and every day that inspires the people around her. And it’s really cool this year seeing that she’s taken all the experiences that she’s had and brought it in as a leadership role.”

Making her comeback after achieving a gold medal win at the Paris Olympics and donning a 2023 NCAA champion on floor exercise, the gymnast’s return to the college team saw her take things very seriously. Portraying a dominant role as the team’s leader since the last few weeks after the Bruins Quad event, Chiles is coming off with learnings along with her noticeable growth seen over the years under UCLA.

“I’ve seen all these moments over the last few weeks where she’s kind of stepped over and had conversations with people to help their mindset and their confidence. It’s a testament to her character and her love for the sport and this team that she wants to come and make this good transition and make a positive impact right out of the gate.”

Janelle comments on how Jordan Chiles comes as an inspiration for the team and its members, with the main fact hinting towards UCLA elevating its journey as one of the top NCAA colleges; her contributions come in prominence. Her comeback performance at the Bruins meet is one to be discussed.

Jordan Chiles’ Bruins meet comes promising

The Bruins’ second meet of the 2024 season after the Paris Olympics saw Jordan Chiles perform an intricate routine. Going viral from her last appearance at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad event, the Prince-themed music performance got her close to a perfect score of 9.975 on January 11. 

Coming from Chiles’ side, the participation was to bring out the art of artistic gymnastics into the spotlight besides the already-seen gymnastic stunts. The appearance was made in order to uphold and bring out the prominence of the true concept of what artistic gymnastics basically is.

“I want to come back with something that people are going to enjoy. Artistic gymnastics is very well known for just the gymnastics part, and I wanted to be able to bring the art back into the sport, so I felt like Prince was the best thing to do for that. Who wouldn’t want to be able to sit and eat their popcorn at a gymnastics meet and feel like you’re at his concert?”

Practicing her routine less than two weeks before the event, with the help of her assistant coach BJ Das, Jordan Chiles’s performance came as a difficult one, but the overall results were satisfactory. Showcasing a good start after her devastating bronze medal loss, the courage and determination showcased by Jordan Chiles, representing the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team, has been no less than notable. Her current goal, however, carries her hope to bring out a team championship for the No. 11-ranked team.