Jordyn Wieber has never been in a leadership role during her gymnastics career. Yet she crafted something that led her mentees in the Arkansas Razorbacks to do something magical on the gymnastics court. Before she took up the Razorbacks’ coaching role, the program didn’t have much success in college gymnastics. But last year, it made its fans overjoyed. On the court, Razorbacks marked several 190 scores. Last season, it even put the highest score in Razorbacks history. The program reached the semifinal, thwarting every challenge, and the fans kept flocking in high numbers to its home games. The available data says the average attendance reached 7,000. For a program without a so-called star, the number is stunning. How did everything become possible for Arkansas? For Jordyn Wieber? 

Before taking the coaching job at Arkansas Razorbacks, she was at UCLA playing the assistant coach’s role. Did she learn everything there? A bit about coaching? Yes. But her mentality came from her gymnastics career that once went through every possible avenue. Want to know about those? Here is the scoop.

How was Jordyn Wieber’s career? 

Hailing from DeWitt, Michigan, Jordyn Wieber often makes the gymnastics fans awestruck, showing her presence of mind in gymnastics. The 29-year-old completed her study at UCLA in 2017. But before that, she had already claimed world championship titles and team gold in the 2012 London Olympics. Yes, coming from a family with a track and field sports background, she had the option to live her dream—perform elite-level gymnastics for Team USA on the biggest platform. In 2012, the chance came for her. But before that, she had set the tone. How?

In 2007, Jordyn claimed the silver medal in the balance beam and vault events in the US Classic. However, she missed a podium finish in the all-around event. But in the same year, she tasted success in the all-around event. Her continuous, powerful performances earned her a place in the Junior Pan American Championships. Jordyn helped Team USA win the team gold while claiming the silver medal in the all-around event. The groundbreaking moment, however, came in 2009. 

In 2009, Jordyn Wieber was just 13 years old when she made her entry into the American Cup. Her age couldn’t stand as a barrier in front of her determination. She entered the contest to win the top crown. Ultimately, she did, overpowering Bridget Sloan, the Olympian’s challenge. The sweet affair continued, meanwhile.

In 2011, Jordyn Wieber made headlines by shooting multiple titles. First, she repeated her success in the American Cup by winning the all-around title. Later, in the Visa Championships, Wieber made a 3-fer, winning gold medals in all-around, floor exercise, and uneven bars. In October of that year, she carved her place in history by claiming the all-around title in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo. Team USA also tasted success, claiming the team title. For her, the biggest moment came in the 2012 London Olympics.

How was the London Olympics for her? 

In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Jordyn Wieber had a limited chance to make a name for herself. Her score in the qualifications wouldn’t put her in the all-around final. But she could appear in the team final and floor exercise events. She utilized her chances. In the team final, Wieber achieved scores of 15.933 on vault, 14.666 on uneven bars, and 15.000 on floor, helping the Fierce Five secure first place. In the floor final, Wieber finished in seventh place with a score of 14.500 after stepping out of bounds during her second tumbling pass. Wieber could have made it to the podium, as her score from the team final would have been sufficient to secure the bronze medal. But her fate had some other plans.

After the London Olympics, Jordyn Wieber signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas and entered UCLA to complete her studies. In 2015, she announced her retirement from elite gymnastics. Now, nine years later, a few things are bringing her back to the Olympic journey once again. 

What happened in the premiere of Fox’s Special Forces? 

On January 8, Fox aired the two-hour-long season premiere of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. The third installment of the reality show has participants like Marion Jones, Cam Newton, Landon Donovan, Nathan Adrian, and others. Hold on! The show also has Jordyn Wieber on the contestants’ list. The Olympian is now tasting a different arena, a distance away from indoor sports. But in the premiere, something went off-route.

In the premiere, Wieber had an anxiety attack and found it difficult to breathe during a particularly challenging exercise before regaining her composure and proceeding in the competition. But the question lingered on her fitness and wholesome presence in the show. Did she have any answer afterward to erase the doubt? Yes.

In a post-show moment, Wieber said, “In the sport of gymnastics, it was really intense. The main motivating force was fear. We weren’t allowed to show emotion. And I think a lot of us post gymnastics have realized that it has long-lasting impacts on us as people.” Surely, her words signified the mental and physical battle she once fought to claim success. But here she is on a new beginning, proving her ironclad confidence once again.