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Can Jordan Chiles' return to UCLA redefine the future of women in college sports?

When Jordan Chiles had successfully punched her ticket to the French capital for a second shot at the Games, she couldn’t help but celebrate with fans! While she earned a stellar Olympic gold in the women’s team all-around, her dream was soon turned into a nightmare. The women’s floor finals were such a whirlwind for the gymnast. After her coach appealed for her score to be revised, it catapulted her to #3, and with that, she left Paris with two medals in tow.

Unfortunately, the CAS asked the Olympian to return her medal to the official bronze medalist of the event, Romania’s Ana Barbosu. Shocked by the outcome, she eventually shifted her focus to an exciting time at the Gold Over America Tour. Amidst touring 30+ cities with her compatriots, she also found the time to attend a few events before finally preparing for the next big break – competing for UCLA. How is she preparing for this move, you ask?

It’s out with the old and in with the new for Jordan Chiles

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Regardless of all the heartache, the 23-year-old had an incredible time in the French capital. Yet, as she prepared to return to the mat, she realized she had a major issue. When Jordan Chiles was asked how many leos she had recently, she confirmed it was over 100. We don’t blame her though. Many elite gymnasts receive tons of outfits during every meet, and she wanted to let a few of those go. So, how did the Olympian go about it? She decided to let fans get their hands on some of her leotards.

via Getty

Have you always wanted to be THAT girl? Then, now’s your chance! After collecting piles of Leos over the years, the gymnast realized it would be impossible to wear every single one now. However, there is one catch! These lightly worn-in outfits can only be worn by tiny tots. Her mother, Gina Chiles, decided to make a Facebook group to make the process more seamless. According to her, the number of Leos was wearing her down.

But she posted a link to the website reiterating that even though these are worn-in, they’re in stellar condition. Each outfit is ASM and has been signed by Jordan Chiles. While most of them happen to be from GK, a few from Sylvia P also make an appearance in the infamous pile. In fact, some of these also happen to be one-of-a-kind. So, if you’re looking to make your little girl’s dreams come true, you’re in luck! Upon purchase, the leotards will be shipped in time for Christmas!

On the other hand, she isn’t the only gymnast who has pulled this interesting move off. Roughly three months ago, Kayla DiCello announced that she would be selling her leos, linking it to a different Instagram account. Boasting 39 posts, the bio reads, “Selling my leos! DM me if interested & a signed leo! Signatures are adittional” Just like with the 23-year-old, she had images and details of each of the leos with their price and additional charges in the caption.

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Can Jordan Chiles' return to UCLA redefine the future of women in college sports?

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However, another gymnast decided to make someone’s dreams come true as well. A few years ago, Shilese Jones decided to dig into her towering pile. The 22-year-old had worn a few of these at national camps and several meets. While some of these weren’t signed they definitely sold like hot cakes! Even though it isn’t odd for elite gymnasts to share their experiences with fans, what could have prompted the Olympian to put up a large chunk of her collection on sale?

The 23-year-old’s triumphant return has her pumped

After a harrowing experience in the French capital, Jordan Chiles let the world know that she will return to UCLA for one final season. Keeping up with that, she even shared the schedule for her NCAA outing for the upcoming season. However, that’s not it. The Olympian’s performance at the Bercy Arena drew several eyeballs, increasing her chances for sponsorships and marketing deals. She’s following another titan’s footsteps in the NCAA circuit.

Olivia Dunne has been shaking things up with big sponsors lining up to offer them million-dollar deals. In a world where male athletes usually take over, the 22-year-old has begun a powerful revolution. But it looks like Chiles isn’t far behind. Given that she is a standout student at UCLA, she has helped lead the university’s efforts to help women athletes make a mark in the world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings.

via Reuters

With the help of Jordan Chiles, UCLA is trying to bridge the NIL earnings gap. Additionally, the Olympian was a part of seven of the largest NIL deals for UCLA gymnastics. This will only move up after her team’s all-around gold in the French capital. However, UCLA hasn’t revealed any specifics about their athletes’ earnings. Yet, it’s safe to say that the 23-year-old has been a game-changer for the women’s programs. While UCLA is working towards securing a fruitful future for the next generation, LSU continues to make the climb to the top.

Like the Olympian, Livvy Dunne has played a pivotal role in helping the LSU Tigers close the gap in NIL earnings between genders. She holds the top spot among women NIL valuations in college sports. As the duo are approaching their eligibility limits in their collegiate careers, their final year in the upcoming season will help their programs and NIL deals thrive for an additional year. Are you excited to watch her return to the mat?

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