Despite WCC Clubmate’s Confusion, Jordan Chiles Stands Unfazed About Life After Gymnastics: “Accomplished Everything”

Everything Jordan Chiles does, she does it with confidence. A few weeks back, the Olympian appeared in a Beyoncé-inspired leotard in the Xfinity US Championships. The colorful leotard emulated a dress once worn by pop star Beyoncé on her world tour and Jordan Chiles followed that to display her reverence for the 32 Grammy winner Similarly, when it comes to thinking about her life away from the gymnastics mat, she does not lose track.

In her conversation with Elite Daily, the world artistic gymnastics championships medalist revealed her wishes for her post-retirement life. It revolves around having a contained, happy married life with kids. Serving a view of that, she said, “I want to be able to wake up and say I’ve accomplished everything in my life.” That may give a different view compared to what her WCC mate Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos thinks about life. As Jordan Chiles holds a special interest in real estate away from her gymnastics love, the French gymnast nurtures her share of love with fashion design. But for thinking about post-retirement life, Melanie could only say, “I don’t know. I don’t plan.” In that aspect, Jordan seems quite articulated in her plan, just like her delighted performances on the floor exercise. 

She seems to be keeping her options well set beforehand. So when the 23-year-old gymnast said that in the future she wants to “help out to the community”, things took a different turn, much opposite from the one that Melanie keeps in her mind. 

Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos seemed to be startled when the topic moved to asking about her future living. Additionally, she remained entwined with questions asked to herself, such as, “Am I going back to the United States? Am I going back to Martinique[her native place]? Am I going to Paris for work opportunities?” Yet, Jordan is not ready to take a last call on the place maybe, but she will play her part for the society, irrespective of the place. In that meantime, the Oregon native would try to relish the marks she has left in the sport and the culture she follows. What has she done for sports and culture so far? 

Jordan Chiles nods to her quote, ‘I’m that girl’

When Jordan Chiles saw Beyoncé’s catsuit on IG, unveiled in her Renaissance tour, she wanted to embrace the same mixture of colors on her leotard. It was not about a thorough copy of a legend. Rather, Jordan Chiles’ leotard or floor practice on Beyoncé’s songs expressed that the gymnast is ready to follow in the footsteps of the pop star in elevating the voice of the suppressed class. It sits well with her prideful announcement, “I’m that girl” (a song by Beyoncé). So, the colorful leotard was not to be the Beyoncé of the mat. Instead, it was to be the ‘same girl’. 

Coming from an Afro-American background, Jordan Chiles has had several contrasting experiences on her way to fame. She usually finds her solace when she relates herself to Beyoncé’s upbringing. Explaining the similarity part, Jordan said, “She’s been body-shamed. She’s been racially attacked. She’s done all these things that as an athlete you go through.” Therefore, being an astute follower does not hurt her cause to be “that girl”. 

Similarly, with Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, forms a pair who represents the community. In the current ratio of representation, the Black gymnasts hold a majority and it has a high chance to continue in the Paris Olympics. Thinking about that part, Jordan firmly said, “It would mean the world, it would mean that no matter where we go, there’s always gonna be history.” In her retirement, she might feel happiness being a part of such a change for her community.