"I was silenced at a young age and wasn't allowed to express a lot" - Jordan Chiles shares the reason behind her jolly nature
Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles is ready to participate at the Paris Olympics 2024 after finishing third overall at the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. The 23-year-old spoke in an interview with EBONY about her preparations for her second Olympic Games, and the reasons for her jolly nature.
During the call with EBONY over Zoom, Chiles stated her ambitions for the upcoming Olympic Games, and also spoke about her personality.
"Our sport is already so strict so having a light helps put the mood at ease. It's just my personality. I was silenced at a young age and wasn't allowed to express a lot of my emotions and personality. So now, I try to do that as much as I can. Whether I dance, get the crowd involved, cry, or be that hype woman for my team. But I also know that I have a job to do in the end and contribute my part."
"Being authentic to myself is something I was just taught," Chiles added. "I always think, how can I make a name for myself? How can Jordan Chiles be Jordan Chiles? I'm going to be the same person in and outside the gym. It's just me being me. Not a lot of people can understand that. Social media can be iffy here and there, but it's how I feel. And yes, 100 percent, you're going to get that Beyoncé, that GloRilla, Megan, Chloë, Sza, HER, Ella Mai—whoever it is. I'm bringing all that to Paris. Just because I'm on this big stage—yes, I have a job to do—but I'm going to have fun, too."
Jordan Chiles said that dancing is her way of expressing herself, which helps her perform well in competitions. She is taking her practice day-by-day, and wants to ensure that she is in the best possible shape for the Olympic Games.
The UCLA student, who recently turned 23, will be participating in her second Olympic Games this summer. She spoke about what she does to ensure that she can perform at the elite level at every event.
"It's been crazy, I will tell you that. Since coming from trials, it's been a whirlwind. But we're here, round two. This is beyond words. Mentally, I've been taking it day by day, practice by practice. Nothing more, nothing less, kind of keeping it the same because you don't want to tire yourself out. You want to make sure you're good. And taking naps! That self-care comes into play but I also have fun, too. I recently went to a concert with my best friend and hanging out with my family helps as well."
Jordan Chiles ready to put on a show at the Paris Olympics
Jordan Chiles first represented Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. She is now ready to take on more responsibility, after qualifying alongside Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and 16-year-old Hezly Rivera. When asked about what she is looking forward to the most at the Olympic Games in Paris, Chiles told EBONY:
"The biggest thing is to just go out there and have fun. Knowing that I've done this once before is the easy part—I'm not saying it will be easy—but I've been here."
"That's going to make me confident in myself. I'm just going to go out there and do me. I'm not going to doubt myself, I made it to my second Olympics. What more can I do at this point? That's already big enough in itself. I'm just excited to put myself in a position to show people this is a different Jordan."
Jordan Chiles is firming up to be among the top prospects to watch at the Paris Olympics 2024. Her confidence and commitment to herself makes her primed for a successful event. Buckle up, the Summer Games are about to begin in a few weeks' time.
Trending
