Jordan Chiles’ Paris outing did not come around as expected. After experiencing ultimate jubilation, the 23-year-old was forced to relinquish her bronze medal. Now, in any other circumstances, an athlete suffering such a mental blow would have been significantly pegged back. And while Chiles, too, struggled to fathom the reality initially, she was immediately able to pull herself together. While this was surely a heartbreak, Chiles had her secret Santa giving her hope and courage to fight back. And that is none other than the gymnastics queen, Simone Biles herself! 

It is no surprise that Chiles and Biles have been best friends for a long time. However, it all started way back in 2018, when Chiles was about to quit professional gymnastics. Delivering her keynote speech at the Power Women Summit, Jordan Chiles stressed how much Biles was of help during the darkest phases of her life. Chiles stated that back in 2018, she was not in a good mental state owing to the weight of expectations upon her. The fear of being judged for failure made Chiles doubt herself if she had relevance in the gymnastics field. 

Chiles further noted that to pursue perfection, she almost lost her original self in the process. The Olympic gold medalist also brushed on the stereotypes forced on her. Chiles revealed how she was told to fit into the stereotypes and check all the boxes that did not resonate with her at all. It was at this moment that Chiles got a guardian angel in Simone Biles. Having battled similar demons herself, the gymnastics GOAT provided her ample support that ultimately kickstarted her journey as a 2x Olympian.

Speaking at the Power Women Summit recently, Chiles said, “I learned that the system wasn’t built for people who looked or even acted like me. For so long, I was told that in order to achieve my dream, I had to fit into a space that felt unnatural.” Giving credit to her WCC bestie and teammate Simone Biles, Jordan continued, “It was my best friend, Simone, who gave me hope and a new path to my dream when I was about to give it up. Women are amazing.” 

Chiles also thanked her friends, coaches, family, and teammates who took the initiative to help her and lift her morals to craft her into the champion that she is today. Unfortunately, despite Chiles picking herself up from the dust and transforming her into a champion, the demons are back again. This time, confusion with the inquiry system at the Olympics cost her the bronze medal. And while she was attacked by online trolls, it was Simone Biles once again who took guard and defended her BFF.

Simone Biles stands up for Jordan Chiles once again

Soon after the news of the Court of Arbitration asking Chiles to return her medal went viral, the internet trolls were at work. Criticizing Chiles for her fate, the scathing comments made Chiles shut her social profiles. But Biles was swift to spot the issue and addressed it promptly. After all, who better than Biles would know how to deal with trolls? After being tagged as a quitter, it was Biles who came back strong and claimed her throne as the rightful gymnastics queen. 

Sharing the advice she gave Chiles, Biles opined, “We’ve been FaceTiming, texting, just being girls… I did talk to her on one of the days, and I was like,“You know what, Jordan, you have to feel all these feels. Don’t let these emotions stop you. This will be the healthiest way to get all of this out.” Biles also voiced her support for her BFF concerning the Paris controversy publicly. She said, “We want that justice for Jordan and why we’re going to keep supporting her and uplifting her.” Thus, with a lot of trolls and challenges coming her way, it is Jordan Chiles’ grit and Simone Biles’ friendship that makes this duo a true example of sisterhood in the realm of sports.