Biles shared, “We’ve been FaceTiming, texting, just being girls.” She added, “I did talk to her on one of the days, and I was like, “You know what, Jordan, you have to feel all these feels. Don’t let these emotions stop you. This will be the healthiest way to get all of this out.” Having navigated her own challenges in the sport, Biles remains a strong advocate for her teammates.
She has voiced concerns about the fairness of the procedures that led to the ruling and is seeking justice for Jordan Chiles. “We want that justice for Jordan and why we’re going to keep supporting her and uplifting her.” At that time, Jordan Chiles took a break from social media. However, Biles’ advice proved helpful to Chiles as she reemerged online.
As Biles puts it, “I know she’s not on social media, but some of the funny things I’ve seen, I said, ‘Okay, Jordan, can I send you something that I think you would really like right now?’ And so I’ve sent her little things. One of them was these four or five girls guarding a medal, which I thought was the cutest. Then I sent her Flavor Flav’s bronze [medal he made for her], and also LeBron’s tweet.”
But was it just this much controversy? Not at all!
Jordan was crushed when they stripped her of her bronze medal, but the hate didn’t stop there. Even when she had the medal, she faced a lot of online negativity—similar to what Biles has gone through.
After Romania’s Ana Barbosu was promoted to third place, Chiles expressed her frustration: “I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow not just to me but to everyone who has championed my journey,” adding that the racially driven attacks she faced were “wrong and extremely hurtful.” Well, online racists targeted Chiles with vile comments, including racial slurs and dehumanizing images.
“The racist disgusting comments are still happening in 2024,” Chiles’s mother, Gina Chiles, posted. “I’m tired of people who say it no longer exists. My daughter is a highly decorated Olympian with the biggest heart and a level of sportsmanship that is unmatched…and she’s being called disgusting things.”
Adding to the scrutiny, Jordan’s sister Jazmin pointed out, “They have officially, five days later, stripped her of one of her medals—not because she didn’t win, not because she was doping, not because she stepped out of bounds, but because the judges failed to give her difficulty points and forced an inquiry to be made.” This highlights the ongoing reality of racial bias in sports and the disproportionate scrutiny faced by Black athletes. Yet, amidst the negativity, Simone Biles stood by Jordan Chiles, offering support just as she had once faced similar challenges herself.
The backlash against Simone Biles and the silver linings of support
During the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles faced intense criticism after deciding to withdraw from two gymnastics events to prioritize her mental and physical health. Biles, who revealed she was experiencing the “twisties.” But she was met with harsh judgment from some quarters for this. One critic tweeted, “childish national embarrassment, Simone Biles.”
Another commentator described Biles as “weak” and a “shame to the country,” asserting, “We are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles,” and even labeled her “quitter of the year.” But amidst all of them, there were few who supported her, especially two Olympic gymnasts who advised her as a sister and mentor, like Simone now does for Jordan’s.
Mental blocks have a significant negative effect on performance, as Laurie Hernandez noted: “Your brain will like stutter step for half a second, and that’s enough to throw off the whole talent.” In addition to highlighting the significance of mental health, she said of Simone Biles, “She’s human, and it’s acceptable to struggle.” Being honest is OK. And asking for assistance is acceptable. I hope that everyone is aware of how crucial mental health is.
Aly Raisman, a former gymnast for Team USA, too backed Biles. “Consider how much pressure has been on her, and there’s just so much that someone can take,” Raisman emphasised.”I believe sometimes people forget that she’s human,” she continued, adding, “that Simone, like everyone else, is doing the best that she can.”
“I also am just thinking about the mental impact that this has to have on Simone,” Raisman said, reflecting on the psychological cost of the attention. It’s really awful how much pressure there is, and I’ve been observing how much pressure she’s had in the months before the Games. I’m in terrible shape.
“I’m proud of her because she’s standing up and using her voice,” Raisman said in addition to expressing support. She is ensuring that she is choosing what is best for her. This transcends much beyond gymnastics.Simone Biles has been collecting gold medals ever since, and this one was her third. Despite Jordan Chiles’ age gap of 23 from Simone’s 27, the two share a close relationship akin to that of mentor and apprentice, with Simone taking on the role of big sister. Perhaps because of this encouraging relationship, Jordan’s enthusiasm for gymnastics has returned.
Jordan marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career by posting a photo from the WCC World Champions Centre, where she has been training since 2017. She is also still scheduled to accompany Simone Biles on the Gold Over America Tour, commonly referred to as the GOAT Tour. From September to November, 30 cities will be visited by the tour. She appeared to be having a fantastic time—possibly at a concert—in an Instagram story that she published just thirteen hours earlier. It appears that “that chick” has returned!
We’re excited to watch what Jordan does next and wish her all the best in the world as she takes on new challenges. She has more Olympic ambitions in the works!
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