Family — it’s such a simple word, but it packs a serious punch when it comes to emotions and strength. This year’s Paris Olympics has been filled with some truly touching stories about athletes and their families. Take Novak Djokovic, for example; he was in tears celebrating his gold medal win with his loved ones. And we surely can’t forget about USA Gymnastics’ pride and joy, Jordan Chiles, for whom these Olympics were more than just competing; they were a tribute to her loved ones she lost along the way.

Team USA gymnastics, featuring Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles, exuded confidence going into the Paris Olympics, determined not to repeat the disappointments of Tokyo. And guess what? The 23-year-old Chiles grabbed the gold medal and couldn’t help but reflect on her tough journey to get there.

Jordan Chiles still carrying the legacy of her lost ones

After that epic win, Jordan Chiles opened up about how it still hasn’t really hit her that she’s an Olympic champ and how proud she is. And, honestly, she has every reason to be proud, given her score of 13.866 during the team finals was one of the top performances out there. But reaching this moment wasn’t exactly a piece of cake for her. She recalled the Pan American Games in 2023 when things went south for her with a nasty fall, leading to a disappointing loss.

There were moments when she thought about quitting altogether. But then she remembered her grandpa’s encouraging words: “I was like, I don’t think my grandpa would want me to quit right now. So with having him in my mind, him in my heart, you know, I just pushed and pushed and pushed because I knew at some point in time something was going to give.”

And you know what? She believes this Olympic victory is that exact moment. However, it’s bittersweet since her grandfather is unfortunately not around anymore to witness it all firsthand. Last year was rough; she lost both her aunt and grandfather—something Jordan Chiles called the “hardest thing that I’ve ever had to go through.” She’s been super open about how much she misses her aunt. Earlier this year, when asked about what moment she’d want to rewind to, it hit home hard, and tears started welling up in her eyes.

Her answer? She wished she could go back and apologize to her aunt before she passed away. Then, on top of that heartache, Chiles lost her grandpa, the man who was always there for her, making everything even tougher. But honestly, the strength Chiles has shown is impressive! She’s managed to turn these setbacks into learning experiences.

How Chiles find wisdom at her lowest point?

During the recent reflection, she talked about seeing loved ones struggle at their ‘funerals’ or while dealing with ‘pain’ in bed. She said something that really struck a chord: “I realized that as much suffering as I’m having right now is not as bad as what they’re going through.” That realization is what gave her an extra boost of resilience.

She added, “So it taught me just to be as resilient and as powerful and just be the person that I’m supposed to be on this earth because I’m the one who’s still living and they had to go at the time that was needed.” It’s such an emotional story but also incredibly inspiring!

Now look at Jordan Chiles soaring high in Paris with a gold medal like it’s some kind of superhero cape! However, that’s not the end, as soon she’s about to take the mat again for her individual event. Let’s just sit back and see what amazing things she has lined up next.