Jordan Chiles resumes gymnastics despite Olympics heartbreak

In December 2024, Jordan Chiles, a prominent gymnast from Team USA, made her return to collegiate gymnastics, representing UCLA. This significant event comes four months after she had to relinquish the bronze medal she won during the Paris Olympics, following an appeal by Romania which resulted in the medal being awarded to one of their gymnasts. Despite this setback, Chiles expressed excitement and gratitude for being back at UCLA, where she has two years of eligibility remaining after deciding to train for the Olympics instead of competing in the upcoming college season in 2024. During the UCLA gymnastics team's annual 'Meet The Bruins' preseason event held on a weekend in Los Angeles, Chiles took center stage, having recently transformed from an Olympian back to a collegiate athlete. She remarked how much she missed the atmosphere of Pauley Pavilion and emphasized the importance of being part of the Bruins family. With her youthful age of 23, she has not officially declared her plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Chiles also indicated that her experiences from the Olympic environment in Paris would enrich her contributions to the college team, allowing her to share the camaraderie and shared memories she built with her teammates there. With other Olympians like Suni Lee and Jade Carey having made their mark in college gymnastics, Chiles is excited to bring a competitive edge and a supportive spirit to her teammates. Her enthusiasm and commitment to the sport shines through as she embraces her role, stating that being back with the team feels incredible. Her journey to this point has not been easy, given the emotional toll of losing her Olympic medal and the high expectations placed on her. Nevertheless, Chiles is focused on enjoying gymnastics again, creating memories, and inspiring her teammates at UCLA. Fans who wish to stay updated on Chiles’ collegiate career and future gymnastics events are encouraged to bring forth the familiar phrase of 'fours up,' indicative of their support for UCLA’s gymnastics team as they embark on this season together.