Jade Carey, Gymnastics Star, Explains the Fall in her Floor Routine
Named after fellow sports great Michael Jordan, Jordan Chiles started gymnastics at 6 years old and quickly progressed through the levels of competition, adding more trophies to her collection with each achievement.
Despite her accomplishments, the 23-year-old didn’t always feel accepted.
“Every time I entered a competition, I wondered, ‘What negative comments will I hear this time?’” Chiles shared in a July 2024 interview with ELLE. “I experienced racial discrimination. I was constantly told, ‘You don’t fit the typical gymnast mold. You look masculine. You’re too muscular.’”
Feeling like she didn’t belong in gymnastics, Chiles contemplated leaving the sport. However, Biles invited her to train at her gym in Texas in 2018.
“I sometimes wish I could erase that chapter of my life,” the athlete from Washington admitted, “but at the same time, those experiences shaped me into the resilient, confident person I am today. It took time for me to regain my love for the sport, though.”
Several years later, both athletes competed in the 2020 Olympics—Chiles stepped in for Biles in the team final, and they brought home the silver medal.
The UCLA gymnast also gained popularity for her flawless performance at the 2023 NCAA Championship, scoring a perfect 10 for her routine set to 90s hip-hop music. She secured her spot in the 2024 Olympics with her routine inspired by Beyoncé.