“I wanted to be done because I didn’t think the sport wanted me,” Jordan Chiles thought at the tender age of 17. But what led her to make the heartbreaking statement? At that age, Chiles faced racism from her former coach. He used to call her “double head” due to her hair as an African American gymnast. But it didn’t stop there! Others cast doubt on Chiles, questioning her parentage due to her darker skin. This made her consider giving up the sport. “I didn’t think people around me wanted to see this beautiful Black girl in a leotard anymore.” But did she hang up her leotard?

Well, no, Jordan Chiles didn’t let adversity get the best of her. Instead, she chose to rise above and embrace her true self, proving she’s the very definition of “Black Girl Magic”. As she gears up for the Paris Olympics, Chiles is joining Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera- (Alternatives: Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson) team touted as the most experienced and diverse the U.S. has ever sent. While the team may be a blast from the past from the Tokyo Olympics, it now includes the fresh face of the youngest member, Hezly Rivera, 16.

However, Chiles has her head in the clouds about being part of this powerhouse group and is absolutely over the moon to represent Black women on the global stage. “All I can say is that it’s going to be Black Girl Power everywhere,” Chiles said according to bet.com publication. “Being a part of this era where there are so many Black gymnasts is incredible. Not only are we women but we’re beautiful women going out there dominating our sport. We’re doing everything that we need to do to make sure that the younger generation understands that it’s okay to be who you are.” Despite this powerful representation, did you know that almost all the proud women of color on the team have encountered racism within the sport?

Jordan Chiles: From a very young age, Jordan Chiles sensed that she was different. At just six and a half years of age, when she first stepped into the gym, she noticed the lack of diversity around her. “I [remember] looking around [and thinking] there’s no one else that looks like me,” Chiles said. Known for her distinctive afro puff, she initially embraced her natural look. However, feeling pressure to fit in, she began straightening her hair, believing it was the “This is what gymnasts are supposed to look like.”

This insecurity was compounded by a former coach who reinforced these doubts by cutting out her braids and suggesting they weren’t suitable for the sport. “It made me wonder, “Why do I have to change what I look like when I’m still talented?”” Chiles shared. Though she never named the abusive coach, Chiles revealed the impact of the harsh treatment she endured.

“So I had a coach verbally abusing me,” she said. “She called me fat. She said I looked like a donut. To the little, littlest things that people ask me, ‘Oh, you’re eating this today.” These comments triggered a cycle of negative thoughts and stress, causing her to question her self-worth and consider quitting gymnastics multiple times. “I would always leave a note before I went to school on the kitchen counter saying, ‘I’m done!’ But I still went to practice that day. So… it was a thought in my head,” she admitted.

Chiles also faced unique challenges as a Black gymnast, noting the lack of diversity in judging standards. “Race, how your body looks. For instance, like, I have a butt. Some others might not.” She wished that judging didn’t focus so much on one body type, as she felt it introduced issues of politics and racism into the sport. But she is not alone! Even the greatest in gymnastics, Simone Biles has had to contend with such unfair criticism.

Stepping into the Shoes of Gymnasts of Color: Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Jordan Chiles Rise Above the Hate!

At 27, Simone Biles continues to make the USA proud, but her journey hasn’t been without bumps along the way. She first faced racism in 2013, when she was just 16. Biles revealed, “I didn’t really notice racism until 2013. I was on a world scene, and what made the news was, another gymnast saying that if we painted our skin black maybe we would all win because I had beaten her out of beam medal, and she got upset.”

This comment was made by Carlotta Ferlito after Biles earned a bronze medal at the World Championships. While hearing this out, Biles added, “Other than that, it happens every day,” and stressed that “And I feel like every Black athlete or coloured athlete could say that they have experienced it through their career but we just have to keep going for those little ones looking up to us.” This statement rings true as even the reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee has also faced racism.

In October 2021, Sunisa Lee, the first Hmong American to compete in the Olympics, faced a racist physical attack. While waiting for a ride with friends after a night out, a car drove by, and its occupants shouted racist slurs like “ching chong” and “go back to where you came from.” One of the passengers then sprayed Lee’s arm with pepper spray before the car sped off. Reflecting on the incident, Lee said, “I was so mad, but there was nothing I could do or control because they skirted off.” Despite facing such challenges and having to weather the storm of racism, Lee and others like her continue to make history and blaze new trails.

With that being said, women and athletes of color are proving their worth and showing they are in a league of their own. They’re making history and flying the flag high for their hometowns with every achievement. What do you think about their journeys in the sport as they headline the Paris Olympics? Share your thoughts in the comments below!