The world championships held last week helped several teams and individuals qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The Games lineup is filling the last of spots with its next stop being the Pan American Games. For many American athletes who wish to compete in the Olympics, the Pan American Games will be vital. Particularly, the senior women’s gymnastics roster was divided into two groups: Worlds and Pan-American. After a two-year absence, Simone Biles made a historic comeback, leading the U.S. team to win their seventh straight title.
Meanwhile, Jordan Chiles is back to bring her prowess on the Pan-American mats after the 2022 Worlds-qualified win. However, just days ahead of the major event, Chiles joined a billion-dollar sponsor to reveal some unfiltered thoughts.
Simone Biles’ gymnastics bestie spills some beans
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
?You have the potential to do anything you put your mind to,? Nike captioned their Instagram post tagging Jordan Chiles, their sponsored athlete. The reel captured the unadulterated feelings of the all-around headed to Pan American in a fun video. In the billion-dollar brand’s feature, she revealed, “I wanted to quit.” Chiles admitted to feeling discontented earlier in 2017, following her exclusion from the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team headed to?the world?championships.
View this post on Instagram
In the “showing your true self video,” Chiles questioned the girls, “What triggers you to feel down on yourself when people are coming at you?”? A girl replied: “There’s a lot of pressure in society to fit in with the norm.”
Along the fun recorded discussion in the gymnastics facility, the 3X Worlds medalist said, “I had to overcome a lot of things, I wanted to quit, I wanted to be done with a sport, I didn’t think the sport wanted me.”?
The gymnast told the girls, “There’s a lot of people who surrounded me, a support system that was always there; you know what you have the potential to do anything!” Nike’s caption further complemented their star athlete saying, “Jordan?s mindset and strong support system helped her overcome many obstacles and social pressures.”
“This is me, this is who I am and I am gonna embrace it; you got this!” she said in the end. Above all, do you know who supported Chiles during the hard times in 2017?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Jordan Chiles backed by fellow athlete
Chiles acknowledged in an interview that she almost gave up gymnastics after failing to make the 2017 world championships. “I thought the sport had lost interest in me. As a result, I turned around,” she said. Later, at the 2018 championships, Jordan placed eleventh which furthered her self-doubt. After some thought, she said, ” I already felt to end my career. However, Simone Biles and I chatted afterwards.” Biles proposed they train together at the World Champions Centre at the end of 2018, which meant a shift to Texas for Chiles.
Chiles began her return to gymnastics with instructors Cecile and Laurent Landi. The gymnast later opened up sharing how it “changed my(her) whole mindset, my whole attitude, and how I look forward to being in the gym.” After Biles withdrew following the Tokyo Olympics, Chiles stepped up to take over and even won team gold along with vault and floor silver. Now, with Biles’ Worlds triumph, it is Chiles’ turn to bring in her A-game at Pan American taking place from October 20? November 5.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch this story With Apprehension for Paris Olympics in Air, Simone Biles Takes Her Next Steps After an Unreal Comeback