"Who cares what people are saying"-Jordan Chiles offers advice to teammates as she returns to UCLA Bruins for NCAA season after Paris Olympics victory

By Janhavi Shinde

Modified Dec 19, 2024 05:46 GMT

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Jordan Chiles was recently seen sharing insights on returning to the UCLA Bruins for the 2025 NCAA season following her triumphant victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. With her Olympics experience behind her, Chiles is now focusing on using that experience to gain collegiate success.

So far in her two Olympic appearances, Chiles has clinched two medals, both in team events. Reflecting on her own experience as a freshman and on her journey as an Olympic gymnast, she advised her UCLA teammates to embrace the opportunity of being in college gymnastics.

Remembering her freshman year, she stated that realizing gymnastics was more than just a sport helped her become a two-time Olympian.

"I wouldn't be the two time Olympian that I am today if it wasn't for me realizing that this sport has more to it than just being you know gymnastics," she said. "When I was in your position, my freshman year I was similar but I still was like 'No, I'm gonna, you know this is college, like you wanna have fun with it.'"

Speaking about not being bothered by outside opinions or criticisms, she said:

"Who cares what other people say? Like who cares what people are saying about you know all the 'Team this' and all this stuff like are they the ones doing what you are doing, you know what I mean? Like that's how I see it. Are they the ones on the apparatus?"

Jordan Chiles expresses her excitement about returning to UCLA Bruins for the 2025 NCAA season

Jordan Chiles of the UCLA Bruins during the "Meet The Bruins" event in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Getty Images)

Jordan Chiles commenced her collegiate gymnastics career as a freshman with the UCLA Bruins in December 2021. She then secured two gold and one silver medal in the uneven bars, floor exercise, and all-around event at the 2023 NCAA Champiosnhips.

Having returned to the collegiate circuit during the "Meet the Bruins" event, following the Olympics heroics, she conveyed her enthusiasm about returning to Pauley Pavilion.

"I'm so excited. I honestly miss Pauley so much. Being a Bruin has meant everything to me, so it's good to be back. Your girl is back," Jordan Chiles said.

Further, she spoke about bringing a positive, supportive atmosphere from her experience with the Paris Olympic team in her current collegiate team.

"I think just being able to have that atmosphere that we did on the team in Paris and bringing it here to Pauley is going to be really fun," Chiles said.

The UCLA Bruins will kick off their season against California on January 4, 2025. The team had a disappointing outing in 2024 as they were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Championships.