Honestly, if you watched the Paris 2024 Olympics, you probably think you saw it all. You saw the gold medals, the viral bow to Rebeca Andrade, and that heartbreaking bronze medal controversy that felt like it would never end. But the real story between Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles isn't just about the hardware or the "Golden Girls" nickname. It's a weird, beautiful, and sometimes messy saga of how two people basically saved each other’s careers while the world was busy counting their deductions.
Most people don't realize that in 2018, Jordan Chiles was done. Like, "throwing away my trophies" done. She was tired of being told she didn't look like a "typical" gymnast. She was tired of the racism and the feeling that she had to shrink herself to fit into a sport that didn't want her. Then Simone Biles—who was already the GOAT at that point—stepped in and basically told her to pack her bags for Texas.
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The World Champions Centre: Where Everything Changed
Jordan moved to Spring, Texas, to train at the World Champions Centre (WCC), which is owned by Simone’s parents. It wasn't just a gym swap. It was a culture shift. You’ve got to understand that elite gymnastics is usually this isolated, high-pressure bubble. At WCC, Simone and Jordan turned it into a sisterhood.
They aren't just teammates; they're best friends who happen to be the best in the world. When Simone had the "twisties" in Tokyo, Jordan was the one who stepped up without a second thought. She competed on bars and beam—events she wasn't even supposed to do—to help the team secure silver. Jordan literally said at the time, "This isn't just us, we did it for her."
Why Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles Still Matter in 2026
We are sitting here in early 2026, and the ripples from their partnership are still everywhere. Simone is currently living much of her life in Chicago, supporting her husband Jonathan Owens and his NFL career with the Bears, but her impact on the sport's culture is permanent. She’s moved the needle on mental health so far that "taking a break" is no longer a dirty word in sports.
And Jordan? She’s been the definition of resilience. While Simone has been the face of the sport, Jordan has been its heart. She’s currently balancing life at UCLA while dealing with the fallout of the most controversial ruling in Olympic gymnastics history.
The Bronze Medal Mess: What Most People Get Wrong
Let’s talk about that floor final. Most people remember the headlines: Jordan Chiles stripped of her medal. But the details are kind of insane when you look at the timeline.
- The Score: Jordan originally got a 13.666. That put her in fifth.
- The Inquiry: Her coach, Cecile Landi, filed an inquiry because the judges missed a difficulty element (the Gogean).
- The Jump: The judges agreed, bumped her score to 13.766, and she moved to third. Bronze.
- The CAS Ruling: Days later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said the inquiry was filed 4 seconds too late. Not 4 minutes. Four seconds.
Jordan and her legal team have been fighting this in the Swiss Federal Supreme Court because they have video evidence—which CAS allegedly wouldn't even look at—showing the inquiry was actually made at the 47-second mark, well within the 60-second limit. Plus, there’s that whole thing about the head of the CAS panel having a conflict of interest with the Romanian government. It's a mess.
Simone has been Jordan's loudest advocate through all of this. It’s not just about the medal for them; it’s about the fact that Jordan did the work, earned the score, and then had the rug pulled out because of a technicality and a stopwatch.
Not Your Average Gymnasts
The bond between these two has redefined what "competition" looks like. They’ve shown that you can want to win and still want your "rival" to win too. When they bowed to Rebeca Andrade on the podium, it wasn't a PR stunt. It was a genuine acknowledgement of greatness. That photo is now in the Louvre (sorta), but the sentiment behind it is what actually matters.
Jordan recently released a book, I’m That Girl, where she talks about how Simone gave her hope when she was at her lowest. It’s a recurring theme. Simone provides the platform, and Jordan provides the fire.
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Actionable Insights: What You Can Learn from the Biles-Chiles Era
If you're looking at their journey and wondering how to apply that "Golden Girls" energy to your own life, here’s the breakdown:
- Find Your WCC: Surround yourself with people who don't want you to "fit in" but want you to stand out. Jordan only succeeded when she stopped trying to be the gymnast everyone else wanted her to be.
- Advocate for Your Value: If you think your "score" is wrong—whether at work or in life—file the inquiry. Jordan’s coach didn't hesitate to challenge the judges. Even if the system fails you later, knowing you fought for your worth is vital.
- Mental Health is a Skill: It’s not something you "fix" once. Simone didn't just quit in Tokyo; she rebuilt. In 2026, she’s still vocal about the fact that her choice to leave or stay is hers alone.
- Support is a Two-Way Street: Be the person who invites a struggling friend to "train at your gym." You never know when that friend will be the one holding you up when you lose your "air awareness."
The saga of Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles isn't finished. Whether Jordan gets her physical medal back or not, the "truth" she talks about in her interviews is already out there. They changed the sport from a "hunger games" style individual struggle into a collective powerhouse. And honestly? That's worth more than any piece of bronze.
To stay updated on the legal proceedings, follow the official statements from USA Gymnastics or the Swiss Federal Supreme Court filings. If you're interested in Jordan’s personal journey, her memoir I’m That Girl offers the most direct look at the 2018-2024 transition.