Reducing “Bestie” Simone Biles’ ‘Quitter’ Tag Backlash, Jordan Chiles Opens Up on Her Gymnastics Struggles at Tokyo Olympics

Tokyo Olympics, 2021- “

Quitter”, is what critics tagged Simone Biles when she walked out of Ariake Gymnastics center following a failed Amanar vault routine. The moment she withdrew, the only thought that crowded her mind was “the world is going to hate me.” However, the 7x Olympic medalist walked up to Jordan Chiles and asked her to don her shoes to complete the other four rounds. But it was a fair share of struggles for Chiles as well, as she paved her way to help Team USA to win silver.

It’s been three years since the Tokyo Olympics, and while a lot has changed, some things have stayed the same. One of those constants is the strong bond between gymnastics besties Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles. The duo brought back nostalgic memories of Tokyo 2021 as Chiles and Biles lit up Minneapolis’ Target Center with their shenanigans, just days before the US Olympic trials. These two peas in a pod are fighting for a second chance to be Team USA teammates, this time aiming for the Paris Olympics. As they fight to earn gold together this year, Jordan has opened up about her struggles during the Tokyo Olympics and how she was determined to redeem her bestie Simone from the unfair “quitter” labels.

In an Instagram post by Kim Anthony, the UCLA Hall of Fame gymnast shared a snippet of Jordan Chiles chatting with her on the Resilience to Brilliance podcast. In the short clip, Jordan opened up about her proudest moment at the Tokyo Olympics. It was when she had to step up for Simone Biles, who withdrew from the finals due to the “Twisties.” Knowing the immense scrutiny Simone was under and even being labeled a “quitter,” Jordan shared, “Being put in that position was the proudest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life and I didn’t want to disappoint her.” 

She continued, “I didn’t want to make her feel like what she was doing was bad, coz there were already people saying a lot of things, so in that moment I knew I had to be resilient within myself and kind of block everything out.” Jordan believed this situation was a test from God, showing her that she was on the team for a reason. She shared, “I felt confident and I was able to shine as bright as I could to help get our team that medal.”

Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles have pretty much both been on the same boat, with regard to the blot of mental health. One common thread, however, is they’ve consistently had each other’s sides through thick and thin. They’ve established a system as well where they have routine mental health check-ins too. Chiles said that-“I think the real thing was we understand each other, whether we have to talk to each other or not, we’ll ask each other if we’re OK.” It also seems like she’s ready to stand by in solidarity with Biles and her teammates in Paris too if need be by saying –“I think for me now is just being able to help my teammates in a way to make sure they’re on the right track or whatever, and making sure that they feel good within themselves.”

As we reflect on Jordan’s words, let’s take a look at how that pivotal moment unfolded at the Tokyo Olympics.

How Chiles stepped into Simone’s shoes and helped Team USA at Tokyo Olympics

During the team final, Jordan Chiles was originally set to compete only on vault and floor exercises. However, when Simone Biles withdrew after the first rotation, Jordan stepped in for her on the uneven bars and the balance beam. Despite not having warmed up, she nailed both routines but stumbled on her third pass on floor exercise.

The United States won the silver medal, finishing second behind Russia. Reflecting on Jordan’s resilience, even Simone shared on the Call Her Daddy podcast that before the finals, she was unsure about withdrawing. She said, “I knew once I got up there, I’m chalking up. We can’t put Jordan in yet. I have to go, I have to put up a score no matter what it is over the table, I have to put up a score.”

However, after Simone’s tumble on the vault during the first rotation, Jordan was called upon. Jordan thought her coach was joking when she was told to prepare for the uneven bars during the event. She told Reuters, “After Simone’s vault, my coach told me that I needed to put my grips on. I thought, no, she’s just being sarcastic. There’s no way.” However, Jordan saw this situation as her opportunity to prove why she was on the team and to support her teammates during a critical moment.

With the 2024 trials coming up, the duo is back in action. Simone Biles is ready to redeem herself from the “Twisties,” and “I’m that girl” Jordan Chiles, is determined to keep her promise from Tokyo: “This is the last time you’ll ever see silver around our necks.” Do you think they’ll make it to the Paris Olympics together? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!