Jordan Chiles wins Olympic gold medal while living authentically – NBC Los Angeles

Lengthy earlier than Jordan Chiles earned a gold medal Tuesday as a member of the U.S. ladies’s gymnastics group on the Paris Olympics, the UCLA alumna and Los Angeles resident realized being her genuine self will assist her attain her desires.

Her bubbly persona was laborious to overlook that even Beyonce and one other Olympic gold medalist Michael Jordan, whom the gymnast was named after, reached out to Chiles with their finest needs earlier than the 2024 Olympics. 

As her caring and compassionate facet comes second nature to the two-time Olympian, Chiles stepped into the highlight on the Tokyo Video games when her coaching accomplice, buddy and fellow gymnast, Simone Biles, stepped off the mat to concentrate on her psychological well being in the course of the Tokyo Olympics.

“Having the ability to see her undergo what she was going by made me notice she is, sure, the best of all time in our sport but additionally nonetheless goes by what everyone else goes by,” Chiles noticed. 

Working facet by facet with Biles, one of many biggest athletes on the planet, has additionally inspired Chiles to be open and trustworthy about who she is. 

“My persona could be very outgoing and spunky,” Chiles defined. “As I’ve gotten older, I form of simply embraced it as a result of after I was youthful, folks all the time simply thought it is a bit annoying. However why ought to I dim myself after I can simply brighten up every little thing?”

Being Jordan Chiles additionally means being obsessed with her causes and collaborating in charity work, together with initiatives with Lady Scouts and hospitals.

“Lately, my aunt handed away as a result of most cancers, so I wish to determine how I will help with lots of most cancers sufferers or simply be capable to all the time allow them to know there’s all the time going to be somebody with them it doesn’t matter what,” she defined.

Chiles is a proud Angeleno as town of Los Angeles welcomes anybody with a giant persona like hers.

“I’ve been an LA woman ever since I used to be little. UCLA was my dream college, so with the ability to accomplish every little thing that I’ve carried out with them, it’s only a cherry on high.”

Jordan stepped away from collegiate competitors in 2023 to concentrate on making the summer time video games in Paris, and it paid off. Jordan earned a spot on Crew USA, together with her UCLA coach watching from the stands on the Olympic trials in June. 

“I really like her. She enjoys my gymnastics. She all the time tells me, ‘I simply take pleasure in watching you a lot, you may have enjoyable with every little thing,’” Chiles mentioned.

As Chiles takes in each second, together with the time on the Paris Olympics podium the place a gold medal was positioned round her neck, she places her fingers collectively as her hand tattoo reads ‘pray.’

“I all the time carry it again to my quote, all the time consider within the energy of your desires.”