Jordan Chiles executed a flawless dismount from the beam, soaring through the air before landing with a triumphant fist pump toward her electrified teammates. As the leadoff gymnast for the U.S. women’s team in Paris, Chiles not only nailed her routine but also set a powerful precedent for her squad, loudly declaring America’s bid for gold.

Chiles earned a commendable score of 56.065, trailing behind the phenomenal Simone Biles, who led with 59.566, and Sunisa Lee, who narrowly edged Chiles out by a mere 0.067 points. This razor-thin margin, coupled with the stringent two-per-country rule, cruelly extinguished Chiles’s dream of an Olympic all-around medal. The controversial rule ignited a firestorm among fans, who took to social media to voice their indignation. Despite sky-high expectations, Chiles encountered significant hurdles during the competition, ultimately missing out on crucial events. This outcome left both her supporters and teammates disheartened.

However, in a turn of optimism, Chiles’s sister, Jazmin, recently shared encouraging news about Jordan’s recovery and future plans. Jazmin’s update painted a hopeful picture of a determined athlete poised for an inspiring comeback, rekindling the excitement and support of her fans.

Jordan Chiles’ sister shares latest hopes after Paris Olympics disappointment

In a recent tweet on July 29, 2024, TODAY shared a clip from an interview with the families of US gymnasts. The caption read, “Simone Biles’ mom Nellie, Jade Carey’s mom Danielle, Hezly Rivera’s dad Henry, Jordan Chiles’ sister Jazmin, and Suni Lee’s sister Shyenne discuss their experiences with their @TeamUSA and @usagym family members over the weekend in #Paris2024 #ParisOlympics.” The interview provided an intimate look into the support and emotions of these families as they experienced the highs and lows of the Olympics in Paris. Jazmin Chiles commented, “Jordan is doing amazing. I think for us we just want to make sure she’s smiling and that she feels good. We are just here to support and love on her.” Smiling, she added, “We also spoke to her this morning and she was cleaning”.

This cheerful moment shows that Chiles has a way of staying calm after she is disappointed at having lost out on the qualifiers. It was indeed a big blow to Chiles’ career which is clear after her statement, “This is crazy, I failed”. Even though Chiles did everything right. In all four routines, she was nearly flawless with barely a wobble. She gave her team consistency, consistently scoring well enough to qualify for the all-around in most setups. However, she finished just 0.67 points behind teammate Sunisa Lee and, due to the Olympic rule allowing only two gymnasts per country to advance, she didn’t make it to the all-around competition.

Jordan Chiles has a history of success that includes helping Team USA win silver in Tokyo. The way she made it to the Olympics, with hard work and awesome performances at any level put her in a class of some great all-time athletes. Following the announcement that Chiles would not be competing in Paris, fans and gymnasts alike expressed their support and shared their disagreement with the Olympic rule on social media. Upon realizing she wouldn’t make the all-around finals, 23-year-old Jordan Chiles received support from her coach, Cecile Landi. Landi shared her frustration on Instagram, writing, “Very proud of you, Jo!!! This 2 per country rule is 💩😢.” This echoes a similar situation that happened at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Chellsie Memmel, the team’s technical director, acknowledged the disappointment, noting that it was devastating for Chiles. She remarked on the unfortunate nature stating, “It’s devastating for her.” She further added, “It’s the nature of the sport and it’s unfortunate the two-per-country rule. We knew it was going to be a battle going in, and it really was. Back and forth through the day. It just so happened today was Suni’s day, and that sucks for Jordan. It’s going to take some time, and that’s OK.” Jordan Chiles’ journey to this Olympics has been far from smooth. 

She secured third place at the Core Hydration Classic in May but dropped to fifth at the U.S. Championships, leaving her Olympic trials spot uncertain. With injuries to Skye Blakely and Kayla DiCello creating openings, Chiles took full advantage. Embracing what she humorously calls her “angry Jordan” persona, she performed solidly at the trials and earned her place in the Games. Chiles’ Olympic journey is not over yet. She qualified for the floor exercise final, finishing second to Biles. Although she technically earned a spot in the all-around, the two-per-country rule barred her from competing there. 

Jordan Chiles’ Paris debut and what’s next?

In Tokyo three years ago, Jordan Chiles struggled in the qualifying round and failed to reach any individual event finals. However, when Simone Biles withdrew from the team competition, Chiles stepped in. She took Biles’ place on beam and uneven bars, delivering flawless routines without even warming up. Her performance was crucial in helping the team secure a silver medal.

After Tokyo, Jordan Chiles builds on her journey with her Paris performance, charting her path forward. Chiles has since showcased her Beyoncé-inspired floor exercises and stated at the start of the Paris Olympics that her motto is “I’m that girl.” So, her entire journey at the Paris Olympics was extraordinary which displayed her grace and athleticism. In her first rotation which began with the balance beam, she scored an impressive 13.600. Then, she gained much confidence in the second rotation which helped this young gymnast to bang the floor exercise with a score of 13.866.

She captivated the attention of the audience and fans in the third rotation with a 14.333 score. Lastly, in the uneven bars, she showed her unwavering gymnastic skills and earned a score of 14.266. Even after back-to-back impressive performances, she failed to continue showing her grace at the global stage. Now, with her eyes set on future challenges, will she be able to bounce back? Let us know in the comments section below!