Jordan Chiles Opens Up on How Beyonce’s “I’m That Girl” Took Over Her Gymnastics Paris Olympics Journey: “Life Can Take a Toll on You”

After securing her spot for her second Olympic games in Paris, Jordan Chiles sat with six-time medalist Aly Raisman. During their conversation, the 23-year-old gymnastics icon discussed why her icon, Beyonce’s son ‘I’m That Girl’ became symbolic of her Olympic journey. Chiles explained that the song took on a new meaning after watching Beyonce perform in Houston and then watching her documentary.

While Jordan Chiles had always been a Beyonce fan, ‘I’m That Girl’ was a revelation. “Her childhood was crazy… She became this childhood star and I think, you know, I feel like that’s how it is with a lot of athletes,” Chiles explained. The world championships gold medalist said athletes like her also become stars when they’re too young to make their own decisions.

However, they get engulfed by fame and only realize they need to consider their well-being when they age. So the song became “a mirror” for the Olympian. “You’re that girl, like let’s go out there,” said Chiles. However, while she feels upbeat and ready to prove herself during competitions, “I do remind myself… life can take a toll on you,” Jordan Chiles said during the interview.

So, this will be Jordan Chiles’ mindset going into Paris. While she is excited to win medals for Team USA, chasing glory won’t be her only motivation. In addition to aiming for the podium, Jordan Chiles is entering the Paris Olympics with self-confidence. The 4x Pan American Games medalist explained that she is proud of not giving up on herself or the sport.

Although she faced difficulties on the road to Paris, including some unwarranted criticism from a former teammate, Chiles remains undeterred. Now that she is focused on her goal, Jordan Chiles is also excited to cherish the memories she will make in Paris alongside her team, no matter the results. Interestingly, interviewer Aly Raisman went through a similar experience in 2016.

Why Jordan Chiles considers Ali Raisman one of her inspiration

Although Aly Raisman may not have made a Beyoncé song her mantra, she overcame similar challenges. As a young athlete in her first Olympics, Raisman explained she often competed to make others proud rather than herself. However, when she reached the floor exercise finals at the 2012 London Olympics, the 6x Olympic medalist let the pressure get to her.

During her interview with the BBC earlier this week, Raisman recalled practicing before the floor exercise finals. The 30-year-old gymnastics legend explained that she kept landing out of bounds during her first pass, so she asked her coach if they should make a last-minute change. However, Raisman’s coach showed her some tough love, saying she didn’t come to the Olympics to ‘chicken out’ and should do her entire routine.

This helped Raisman to focus, and she competed for herself in the finals, earning a silver. This is why Jordan Chiles takes inspiration from her icons like Beyonce and Aly Raisman. The women who overcame fear to excel at their craft.