Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Leanne Wong, and Joscelyn Roberson are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of Olympic gold in Paris. Alongside their impressive gymnastics skills, their preparation and familiarity with the equipment will be crucial. Like in other sports where gear can make a big difference—like basketball shoes or tennis rackets—gymnastics equipment brands vary.

Lately, there has been discussion about USA Gymnastics utilizing their sponsored brand in U.S. competitions that won’t feature at the Paris Olympics. Jordan Chiles, who trains with Simone Biles at WCC, along with Joscelyn Roberson and Tiana Sumanasekera (a non-traveling replacement for Team USA), have solidly defended the federation’s decisions, shutting down critics.

Jordan Chiles quashes doubts about USA Gymnastics’ provisions for Paris Olympics prep

In a post on X, a user named GymFan shared, “The fact that the US WAG are not training on Gymnova equipment till a week before the opening ceremony (at least to my knowledge) is frightening af. Everything should’ve been on Gymnova all the way from Classics, maybe even winter cup.” But Jordan Chiles quickly jumped in to defend USA Gymnastics and commented on the post, “We are actually already training on Gymnova🤗”

Gymnova, a leading brand in gymnastics equipment, has been supplying gear for national and international competitions for 45 years and will officially provide equipment for the Paris Olympics. The French company will manufacture all gymnastics equipment for the Bercy Arena and the Porte de la Chapelle Arena.

On American soil, Spieth America, a longstanding manufacturer of gymnastics and sports gear in the USA and Canada for over 50 years, entered the game as the Official Equipment Supplier for USA Gymnastics starting January 19, 2023. They are committed to this role until 2029, outfitting approximately 15 major gymnastics events each year, including those hosted by USA Gymnastics.

This development raised concerns among fans about stars like Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and the rest of Team USA. They were not only worried about the lack of experience with Gymnova equipment but also uneasy due to the events leading up to the 2024 US Olympic trials. Curious why?

Why USA Gymnastics’ sponsorship deal with Spieth America had the gymternet concerned

As the 2024 US Olympic trials approached, American gymnastics icons faced several injuries. The Core Hydration US Classic sparked significant discussion, especially concerning the uneven bars. This year’s competition seemed plagued, with athletes like Konnor McClain, Gabby Douglas, and Kayla DiCello experiencing falls on the Uneven Bars. Then, at the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Kayla DiCello encountered another setback on the bars. Following these events, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely, and Kayla DiCello had to abruptly withdraw due to major injuries, shattering their dreams of competing in the Paris Olympics. Many fans were heartbroken, and some even blamed the equipment, especially the Uneven Bars, during the Core Hydration Classic.

You see, different brands of bars feel different—some bounce more, some are sturdier, and some grip better. Gymnova’s bars are straight, while Spieth’s are angled. These differences can significantly impact how gymnasts perform their routines. Despite Spieth being a big name, fans didn’t hesitate to voice their concerns. One fan was sure, saying, “There was something wrong with those bars. I’m convinced.” Another fan, speaking from experience, added, “They’re Spieth bars. The worst bars in the world. (I know these girls compete on Spieth all the time but as a gymnast myself I will say that Spieth feels VERY different from AAI).”

The sentiment was even reflected on GymFan’s post on X, where Jordan Chiles chimed in. One fan said bluntly, “I don’t care about Spieth being their sponsor, they should’ve made sure to have an option to switch equipment in the Olympic year. Contracts can and should be negotiated with the athletes in mind.” Another fan questioned, “Spieth is a sponsor as far as I’m aware so that would be why it wasn’t used in domestic competitions.”

To which GymFan replied saying, “And spieth should be able to understand that it’s an Olympic year and Gymnova is what will be used at the Olympics, heck they could have used spieth all the way to trials and changed at trials then.” Despite this fan sentiment, it’s important to note that it hasn’t been proven that the Spieth equipment caused any mishaps. Even Simone Biles has endorsed the brand in the past. So, considering the situation and Team USA’s adaptation to Gymnova equipment after training and competing on Spieth during domestic competitions, what are your thoughts on Jordan Chiles’ defense of USA Gymnastics? Share your thoughts in the comments below!