How Simone Biles Once Helped Save Jordan Chiles’ Gymnastics Career
Aug 5, 2024; Paris, France; Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles of the United States poses for a photo after day three of the gymnastics event finals during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 5, 2024; Paris, France; Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles of the United States poses for a photo after day three of the gymnastics event finals during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Gymnastics stars Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles found best friends in each other. But surprisingly, it wasn’t the result of competing together solely.
In 2017, the former UCLA gymnast almost considered giving up on the sport due to harsh criticism and not making the World Championship team. In 2018, the condition worsened when she finished 11th in the all-around at the U.S. National Championships.
“I lost the love of the sport,” Chiles said in a 2024 interview with Elle. “I felt like I didn’t belong; I felt like gymnastics didn’t want me… I didn’t want to do anything. I was like, ‘I’m done with this sport. I’m over it.”
Aug 5, 2024; Paris, France; Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles of the United States celebrate after winning silver and bronze in floor exercise on day three of the gymnastics event finals during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 5, 2024; Paris, France; Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles of the United States celebrate after winning silver and bronze in floor exercise on day three of the gymnastics event finals during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports
Chiles felt that the sport “didn’t want” her anymore and decided to go in the opposite direction. But having caught the wind of it, Biles suggested that Chiles move from Washington and join her at the World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas, to train together.
And there, she was to meet Cecile and Laurent Landi, the World Champions Centre coaches who had shaped Biles' career. And in a 2021 interview with PopSugar, Chiles shared the impact of these two.
“Training under Laurent and Cecile definitely has changed my whole mindset, my whole attitude, and how I look forward to being in the gym these days,” she said. “Being able to have coaches who truly understand me… is something that I was really, really happy about.”
From the brink of quitting gymnastics to winning silver at the 2021 Tokyo Games, Chiles knew who was at the crux of it. And it was time for a payback.
Jordan Chiles Had Simone Biles’ Back in Return
At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Biles withdrew from several individual events after experiencing twisties. An infamous condition where a gymnast’s body and mind go out of sync, creating a life-threatening situation. But as criticism surged, it was Chiles' time to stand beside her friend.
"I did try to tell her, 'Look, you know how to do everything, and this is you. This is your moment. It's all up to you,'" Chiles told TODAY in 2021, of supporting Biles in that pivotal moment. “All I know is I'm going to support her no matter what. I am her teammate. I'm her best friend."
Biles helped Chiles rediscover her love for gymnastics, and in return, Chiles backed up her best friend in one of the crucial moments of her career as well. If this isn’t the fairytale friendship, what is?
But can you name another duo like Simone and Jordan, though? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy