While Simone Biles Sits Out, ‘Frustrated’ Jordan Chiles Backs Out From Gymnastics Winter Cup 2024

About a week ago, the Winter Cup released its entry list for the 2024 edition. As it boasts a star-studded lineup featuring the notable returns of Suni Lee and Gabby Douglas, there’s a significant name missing. Simone Biles’ absence has undoubtedly cast a shadow of disappointment for many. And as illustrious as the rest of the entry list is – featuring the likes of Trinity Thomas and Yul Moldauer – Jordan Chiles has unfortunately joined Biles on the other side of it.

Jordan Chiles took to her Instagram story to announce her withdrawal from the event. She expressed, “Hey guys! I tweaked my shoulder, which has prevented me from training at the level I am comfortable with leading up to a competition.” Following consultations with her medical team and coaches, the decision was made jointly for her to withdraw from the Winter Cup. “I am frustrated I can’t perform for you all, but this is also part of our sport, and things like this only fuel me for what’s coming.”

While naturally disappointed to miss the opportunity to compete, she recognized that setbacks are inherent to the sport and only strengthen her resolve for upcoming challenges. With the announcement, she also created an air of anticipation as she wrote, “Can’t wait to show you what we have cookin’. Just a little while longer. See you soon!” Considering how resilient she is, there’s no doubt gymnastics fans all around are excited for her return. Remember the 2023 Pan American Games?

As the veteran leader of the U.S. squad at the 2023 Pan American Games, Jordan Chiles was delivering near-perfect performances throughout the event. However, following a wobbly start to her uneven bars routine, she fell back first while performing the Piked Jaeger maneuver. But being the champ she is, the 22-year-old got back up and finished her routine with a full-in dismount. Despite the fall, Chiles secured third place in the all-around scoring.

As she recovers from her shoulder injury, Chiles extended her support to all the other athletes competing, expressing, “Cheering on all of the girls competing! BRING IT!” While she looks forward to returning stronger following her recovery, it’s also worth noting that on February 14, another 18-year-old gymnast announced their withdrawal from the Winter Cup.

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The road to recovery fueled by determination

Zoe Miller shared a heartfelt update on her Instagram stories, revealing her unfortunate withdrawal from the upcoming Winter Cup due to an injury. She  expressed her disappointment, explaining, “With much regret, I wanted to share that my participation in this year’s Winter Cup is no longer feasible due to an injury.”

Despite not disclosing the specifics of her injury, Zoe conveyed her dedication to recovery and offered words of encouragement to her fellow competitors, stating, “Best of luck to all participants. I will be rooting for everyone.” As a key qualifying event for the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships and a platform for selecting national teams, missing out on the Winter Cup represents a setback for Miller, who has been a national team member since 2021 and harbors aspirations for Paris 2024.

Read More: Shortly After Simone Biles, Fred Richard Announces Winter Cup Exit