Whether she’s greeting her team with unwavering enthusiasm after a red-eye flight from Texas or performing in front of thousands at a UCLA gymnastics meet, her magnetic presence is felt the moment she steps into the arena. Hailing from Vancouver, the 23-year-old powerhouse exudes a rare energy and charisma that captivates fans from all across the globe. Jordan Chiles, who grabbed a silver for her nation at just 19 in the Tokyo Olympics, now buckles up for her second Olympic cycle in Paris, poised to reveal a stronger, more seasoned competitor. 

At the Tokyo Olympics, her winning a silver for Team USA seemed like a momentous achievement for someone who once felt like a “nobody.” However, beneath her vibrant and strong personality lies a story of profound struggle. Chiles, in her younger years, fought against unrealistic expectations and body standards that society set for her. And the confines of the irrational expectations made her embark on a challenging journey.

From body image struggles to self-acceptance: Jordan Chiles’ journey to embracing her true self

For one to reach the zenith, one has to overcome hurdles and barriers to emerge victorious. But what if, your mind builds up a wall and it’s your belief system that hinders your way towards glory? The young girl who is known for her magnetic, charismatic aura and her radiating self had to fight against body shaming during her early years in the gymnastics world. “Early on in my gymnastics career, I was shamed into thinking I wasn’t fit enough”, shared Chiles with People in a recent interview. 

The relentless pressures to conform to a specific body image started to even dictate her diet. “…I should just consume clear-based soups. At that time, I had no body fat and abs for days”, recalled the young Olympian. And that was not all. These irrational standards made their way into her mind and affected the mental well-being of young Chiles. In a recent conversation with TeenVogue Chiles confessed, “I was traumatized when I was younger.”

While her family always stood as the rock for her supporting her through thick and thin, her thoughts were dictated by the preposterous dictates of the world just at the beginning of her rising career. She started to believe the words of the naysayers and her mind made her function according to those dictates. “I was getting weighed. I was told I could only eat certain things. There were a lot of things that I was told because I had to ‘look a certain way”, recalled Jordan Chiles. 

But soon, with time, the young girl grew up to gather more experience and wisdom. Jordan Chiles slowly learned to embrace her body’s natural changes, rejecting the unrealistic standards forcefully imposed on her. Chiles also gathered the strength to offload the questions that she often had to face regarding her ‘body type’. Excepting the truth Chiles stated, “But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized we’re human. Our bodies go through different changes.” She also embraced womanhood and her true self, as she realized, “I’m a woman, so obviously, when it comes to hormonal situations or my cycle, I can’t control that”.

Chiles prepares to redefine success at Paris Olympics with primary focus mental well-being 

Just days, or rather hours ahead of the Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles now unlearned a lot of bad habits and beliefs that younger Chiles carried as baggage. She has decided to prioritize moderation over restriction to maintain both her physical as well as her emotional well-being. Chiles’ diet now follows her own rules and needs as she now has given herself the freedom to grab a burger or a scoop of ice cream without being guilt ridden. 

Jordan Chiles has also spoken about how she has resorted to prioritizing her mental health over everything. Receiving inspiration from her teammate Simone Biles and tennis legends Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, Chiles realized that to pull off a good game it is her mind that should be treated the best. After pulling off a phenomenal performance in the U.S. Olympic Trials, Chiles is now waiting to make her nation proud as she steps in Paris to achieve Olympic glory.