Simone Biles is the only one who can replace her. Jordan Chiles, her confidante, and teammate was given the task of trying.
Chiles, a 20-year-old elite gymnast in her own right, picked up the GOAT’s mantle on Team USA after USA Gymnastics said Biles withdrew from the women’s team gymnastics final event due to a medical issue.
Biles, Suni Lee, and Jade Carey were expected to compete in this team final. But Chiles took over to replace Biles.
Chiles earned a score of 14.666 in the vault, 14.166 on uneven bars, and 13.433 on the balance beam. The floor exercise was a costly 11.700. The silver medal went to Team USA, while the Russian Olympic Committee won the top spot in an upset.
Chiles’s fill-in performance was part of an unusual route to the Olympics.
Chiles was born in Tualatin Oregon and raised in Vancouver, Washington. She is the youngest of five children and was a preternaturally gifted gymnast. Before getting any gymnastics training, she would cartwheel down the aisle of any open space or walk on her hands, according to her online biography.
Jordan Chiles of the United States celebrates her performance at the uneven bars in the artistic gymnastics women’s final at the 2020 Summer Olympics. It took place Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo.
Chiles was named after Michael Jordan, and her family nicknamed her “Chick” because she looked like Chicken Little when she wore her T-ball helmet, according to Daily Reuters.
“Chick” rose up the ranks in the gymnastics industry. According to The New York Times, she became dissatisfied with gymnastics in 2017 and 2018.
Chiles stated to the Times that he didn’t believe the sport needed him anymore. Chiles said, “So I moved in the opposite direction.”
In 2018, she finished 11th in the all-around at US Championships 2018. She decided to move to Texas to join Biles’ gym and train with the best in an environment that is more relaxed.
Simone Biles (USA) poses with Jordan Chiles for photos after an artistic gymnastics session at the 2020 Summer Olympics Tokyo.
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“I discovered that gymnastics doesn’t always have to be about strictness and being so hard on yourself and having so much doubt,” she told the Times. Simone was the first to realize this. She seems to be having fun, laughing, and not looking tired or stressed. “I was like, “You know, I’m going try that one day and see how it goes out.”
This move is a big hit in Chiles’ gymnastics career.
Chile finished first in all-around at February’s Winter Cup. At the US Gymnastics Championships in June, Biles won her record seventh national women’s all-around title while Chiles finished in third with a score of 114.450.
Chiles finished third in the all-around at the US Olympic Trials, to secure her place on the national team.