"Chiles and Biles will forever be a thing"- Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade react to podium finish in floor exercise at Paris Olympics

By V Krishnaswamy

Modified Aug 05, 2024 20:55 GMT

Biles and Chiles, forever. Their names rhyme and they adore each other. The younger one calls the older one a sister. And the legend loves it. For Jordan Chiles, nothing could mean more than being on the podium with the legendary Simone Biles.

Biles is the one we are used to listening about, but this time Chiles, on learning she would be on the podium with Biles, summed it up beautifully.

She laughed and said, “That means everything. Chiles and Biles will forever be a thing. My heart is dedicated to that. Simone is tired of hearing all the praise all the time, but she's my idol, my role model. She's like my big sister. Being up there on that podium with her is just amazing."

Biles, who is not used to being on the lower rungs of the three-step podium, was all praise of the winner of the day, Brazilian Rebecca Andrade, and her younger colleague, Chiles.

Biles has 11 medals, seven of which are gold in color. Her Parisian haul is three gold and one silver. She ended the Paris Olympics 2024 campaign with a silver. Right next to her on the bronze step was Chiles, who after a silver with the team in 2021, won a gold with them in 2024. She also got her first individual medal at the Olympics this time around.

Chiles, who fought hard for her bronze, could not hide her excitement after the result:

“I'm on cloud nine. This is my first-ever (Olympic) individual event (apparatus) final, at my second Olympics. I have no words. Coming out with a medal... that was my goal.”

Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles took the podium finish in floor exercise (IMAGE: GETTY)

Initially adjudged to be fifth, Jordan asked for an inquiry on her difficulty score. An inquiry can go either way, but this time, it resulted in Chiles’ favor.

She said, “That inquiry (on her difficulty score) went in, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I don't know what will happen. Will I go up or down?' So I'm very happy where I'm at right now. This medal means everything to me. This is beyond words. I'm so proud of myself."

"An inquiry can go either way. It can go down, can go up, or it can stay the same. So my coaches were like, 'We're going to try'. I was just proud of myself to be in an event final, so knowing that it (the score) went up... I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I got a medal'."

She moved from fifth to third, climbing on the podium alongside Biles.

Biles had mixed feelings about an Olympic campaign that fetched her three gold and one silver.

She said, "It's been up-and-down emotions. I couldn't be more proud of the performances that I put on. It's been a long week, competing several times, so I'm not mad about how I performed. It's a lot of work and it's paid off. I'm excited I was able to compete with some of the best in the world."

After finishing second to Brazilian Rebecca Andrade, the legend Biles said:

“It was super exciting and super close (today). This was my fifth or sixth floor routine (at these Games), so I'm not mad about it. I'm really happy for Rebeca, she deserved it."

Andrade, the gold medallist in floor exercises, said,

"I am very happy and proud about what I did. We came here every day to compete and perform (well). Gymnastics is not an easy sport, it requires a lot from our body and mind. I was confident I was able to manage all of the pressure and I worked with my coach in order to achieve what we've done."

She said she was about the win until the final scores: “I believe the competition only finishes when it's ended (laughs)."

On which medal was her favorite after the gold on floor, bronze in team, silver on vault and all-around), she said:

“I can't really choose, because they're all special to me. Our bronze in the team competition was very important to me, it was something we've dreamed about as a team and something I really wanted myself, too. For my individual medals, I gave it my all. I was fighting to finally have a gold, because I wanted that one so badly. I'm so glad I managed today (laughs)."

Rebeca Andrade is the most successful Brazilian and Latin American gymnast of all time (IMAGE: GETTY)

With the curtain drawn on the gymnastics competition, a final word came from Biles. When asked what her plans for the immediate future were, the ever-smiling Biles said:

“I'm going to relax, and then more relaxing (laughs). Then it's (time for) the (The Gold Over America Tour). It will be really fun. A good showcase (of gymnastics)."

So, what is that?

The Gold Over America Tour is being billed as the best-ever gymnastic show of all time. It will be a 110-minute show with superstars from the gymnastics world, including Biles, Chiles, and other big names. They will travel to 30 arenas around the United States in a show called Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour.

The troupe will led by the third most decorated gymnast of all time with 11 Olympics and 30 World Championship medals. It will also include Chiles, Jade Carey, and others like Fred Richard, Brody Malone, Paul Juda, Stephen Nedoroscik and Joscelyn Roberson, and many more.