Olympic Hopeful Jordan Chiles Is Someone to Watch Right About Now

Sure, Jordan Chiles [1]'s last name rhymes with Biles, but the 20-year-old is holding her own in women's gymnastics. "I need to be able to go out there [2] and just be Jordan and not try to be somebody that — I don't know, like the next Gabby [Douglas] [3], the next Simone," the senior national team member told USA Today. "I want to be the next Jordan. I'm myself." Prior to that interview, she had won the all-around at the Winter Cup in February and came in second overall at the GK US Classic behind Biles. Following the interview, she claimed the national all-around bronze medal [4] on June 6.

Chiles's journey toward peak performance launched when she moved training gyms from her hometown of Vancouver, WA, to World Champions Centre (WCC) in Spring, TX, where Biles also trains. Making the switch in June 2019 helped instill confidence and love for the sport [5] that she had lost. "The environment in this place is so strong and giving and everything. Like you just feel welcomed," Chiles told USA Today of the gym and coaches Laurent Landi and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi. ". . . Like, this is where I'm supposed to be."

Chiles was the team, vault, and floor champion at the 2018 Pacific Rim Championships and also placed second in the all-around at the 2017 US Gymnastics Championships. She is committed to UCLA, though she has deferred in order to chase her Olympic dream. Her strong scores on all four events give her a chance to make that team — plus, the top two all-arounders at Olympic trials automatically get a spot. She told ESPN that she believes she can make the four-person Olympic squad.

"When I think about everything that I've been through [6], and now where I am now, I feel so confident and I enjoy doing what I love," Chiles said. "When I was younger I felt like I needed to prove something to the world but now, I'm just doing it for myself."

Gymnastics became Chiles's whole universe shortly after she was introduced to the sport with natural talent [7] around age seven, and we can't wait to see what more is in store for her. Ahead, check out six facts about Chiles that you might not know.

Jordan Chiles Was Named After Michael Jordan

Chiles told local news source koin.com that her mom named her after Michael Jordan [8] because, Chiles said, "she is literally in love with sports."

Jordan Chiles Admired Shawn Johnson Growing Up

Chiles told ESPN that she remembers standing on line for what felt like hours to meet Shawn Johnson [9] after the 2008 Olympic Games. "One day your baby girl will know how much you inspired girls like me (with big muscles and power) to dream," Chiles wrote on Twitter.

Jordan Chiles Owns a Clothing Brand

Chiles officially launched Melanin Drip Clothing Co [10]. last June. "I am a young black woman, a
Melanin Queen, and I wanted to create apparel that speaks loud and honours our royal lineage," she writes on the brand's website, which sells hoodies, shirts, pants, and accessories. "So be proud to rock your big and beautiful natural afro, braid it up, twist it up, loc it, poof it or slay with a silky press and then grab a Melanin Drip hoodie and go be authentically you!"

Jordan Chiles Has a Children's Book Written About Her

Chiles's mom, Gina, wrote about her gymnastics journey in a children's book, Dream Big Little Chick [11], published in February of 2020. "It was based on Jordan [12], but I was really thinking of little kids that had their own dream," Gina told NBC Sports. "Especially when things didn't always seem like it could happen." Chick is Chiles's nickname, and the chick in this story aspires to go to the "Animal Olympics."

Jordan Chiles Went Viral For a Wonder Woman Floor Routine in 2018

Chiles's 2018 Nationals floor routine featured music from Wonder Woman. She also wore an iconic Wonder Woman-inspired leotard, and actress Gal Gadot even gave her a shoutout [13] on Twitter!

Jordan Chiles's Newest Floor Routine Is Set to Songs From Spider-Man

Chiles's 2021 floor routine is inspired by the superhero Spider-Man [14]. Here, you can see that routine from 2021 US Gymnastics Championships. She also hinted in an interview with FloGymnastics that she might bring a superhero-themed floor routine [15] to UCLA when she attends.

POPSUGAR UK