Roughly three months removed from a bronze medal controversy that engulfed her experience at the 2024 Olympics, American gymnast Jordan Chiles expressed Monday on “Today” how the fallout has been “really hard” to comprehend.
Discussing the ordeal in her first TV interview since the Paris Games saga in August, Chiles — who was stripped of her bronze medal in the floor exercise final amid questions over the timing of a Team USA score inquiry — said she’s “been able to finally now feel comfortable in a way to talk about what has been happening.”
“It’s honestly been a very, very difficult time, and to everybody that’s been supporting me and lifting me up in millions of different ways, I say thank you all the time, it’s just been a difficult time for myself and I’m ready to speak on my truth,” the two-time Olympian said in an emotional interview.
Over the summer, Chiles, 23, initially received a score of 13.666 in the floor exercise final, putting her in fifth place behind Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who both scored 13.700, with Barbosu netting a higher execution score of 8.000.
Although Chiles was elevated to third place at 13.766 following a score inquiry, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later ruled Team USA’s review was submitted past the deadline.
The International Olympic Committee ordered Chiles to return the bronze as Barbosu received a medal in her home country after the Olympics.
Chiles, who previously called the situation “one of the most challenging moments” of her career, said Monday on “Today” she’s learned on the support of her circle, remaining steadfast the team was “right in everything that we were doing.”
“I think now, it’s just the support that’s been around me that I’ve been like, ‘OK, I can’t control anything that’s happening on the outside, I can only control what my truth is, and I know what the truth is, and I know that we were right in everything that we were doing,’” she said.
In the weeks following the games, Chiles — who also won gold as part of the team all-around final in Paris — filed an appeal in Switzerland’s Supreme Court in hopes of overturning the controversial decision.
A component of the appeal is footage from compatriot Simone Biles’ Netflix documentary, “Simone Biles: Rising,” which features audio of Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, saying, “Inquiry for Jordan!” 49 seconds after the score was announced, USA Today reported in September.
Chiles added Monday how she’s looked to her late grandfather’s example of conquering challenging moments.
“There have been times where my grandpa has been in tough situations and he’s the toughest person I’ve ever met in a million years, and he’s been able to overcome them. How I see it in everything is I’ll be able to overcome this and I’ll be able to look back and say, you know what, that was just a portion of my story but it’s the truth. And that’s why I’m here today to tell my truth,” she said.
The strength exemplified by Chiles has not only resonated with her fans but the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit community as well.
On Monday, the iconic publication announced she would be featured in the 2025 issue, joining fellow Olympians Suni Lee and Gabby Thomas, who were revealed as new SI Swimsuit models last week.
“Beyond being an incredible athlete she is also an advocate for body positivity and mental health and we’re beyond excited to welcome her to the to the fold in the forthcoming 2025 SI Swimsuit Issue as an athlete,” SI Swimsuit posted Monday on its Instagram page.
The 2025 edition of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit arrives next spring.
