Get to know Jordan Chiles: She nearly gave up on gymnastics, but competed at Tokyo Olympics

Alyssa Hertel, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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Jordan Chiles seemed destined for gymnastics greatness after finishing second in the all-around at the 2017 U.S. Nationals.

But after finishing 11th in 2018, she considered quitting elite gymnastics altogether.

That’s when Simone Biles stepped in, suggesting that Chiles move to Texas to train at her home gym under new coaches. Chiles graduated high school, and two days later she left her home state of Washington.

She’s found her passion since then, and it’s paid off with a spot on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver medal in the women's team competition.

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Jordan Chiles competes on the uneven bars during the Women's competition of the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials.
Jordan Chiles competes on the uneven bars during the Women's competition of the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials.

Get to know the rest of the Team USA gymnastics team:

How old is Chiles?

She was born April 15, 2001, making her 20 years old at the start of the Games.

Where is she from?

Chiles, nicknamed Chick, was born in Tualatin, Ore., but lists Vancouver, Wash., as her hometown. She relocated to Spring, Texas for training in mid-2019. She now trains alongside Biles at the World Champions Centre gym with coaches Laurent and Cecile Landi.

(L-R) Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, Mykayla Skinner and Grace McCallum, the women that will represent Team USA, pose following the Women's competition of the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials.
(L-R) Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, Mykayla Skinner and Grace McCallum, the women that will represent Team USA, pose following the Women's competition of the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials.

Does Chiles have any Olympic medals?

Chiles's first Olympic medal came after the U.S. women won a silver medal in the team finals at the Tokyo Games.

When will she compete in Tokyo?

The women’s gymnastics competition kicked off on Sunday, July 25, with qualifying. Chiles competed in the women's team finals on July 27 where the U.S. women won silver after Simone Biles withdrew from competition. Chiles did not qualify for the all-around competition or individual events.

Where does Chiles go to school?

Chiles graduated high school before moving to Texas to train with Biles and is committed to join the gymnastics team at UCLA. She deferred enrollment until after she returns from Tokyo and the Gold Over America post-Olympic gymnastics tour. According to her USA Gymnastics bio, Chiles plans to major in zoology at UCLA and should graduate in 2024.

Road to the Olympics

Chiles had wrist surgery in November 2019. She returned stronger than ever, winning the all-around, vault and floor events and taking silver on balance beam at the 2021 Winter Cup. She cemented her spot in the Olympics with her performance at the Trials in late June.

At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Chiles finished third in the all-around with a final combined total of 114.631, behind Biles and Lee. She placed second on uneven bars, third on floor exercise and fourth on balance beam.

Contact Alyssa Hertel at ahertel@usatoday.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet Jordan Chiles, Tokyo Olympics gymnastics team silver medalist