"I was already going through a lot within myself"- Jordan Chiles gets emotional as she opens up on Simone Biles' crucial advice while struggling

Following Simone Biles' recent recognition of being named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, Jordan Chiles reflected on an incident that displayed the legendary gymnast's support. Biles and Chiles competed at the 2024 Paris Games, securing a gold medal in the team event.

During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Chiles remembered the difficult period she faced at a World Selection Camp in 2018, where she was facing personal struggles and was also dropped off from the American senior and the world team. Biles, her roommate then, noticed something seemed off for Chiles.

When Chiles admitted feeling overwhelmed and expressed discontinuing the sport, Biles filled her with powerful encouragement.

"The reason why I came back is actually because of one person," Chiles said. "I went to a World selection camp and I was already going through a lot within myself and what the acceptance of the sport and me being you know African-American and all that stuff. There were already a lot of things hard on me and at this camp,

She was just like 'What's going on?' Because she knew something was up and I was like 'I can't do this anymore, like my body and this I don't know how to do it.' There's no point in going through a lot and my coach and all the stuff. She had looked at me just like you honestly have the ability to do anything you want. She's like you are strong, she just gave me a lot of encouraging words during that time."

Jordan Chiles further stated that Biles' encouragement gave her the confidence to keep going.

"To have something like that in your corner supporting you just makes you feel more confident in yourself."

Romania’s Ana Barbosu commits to Stanford to join NCAA gymnastics after the Paris Olympics bronze medal debacle with Jordan Chiles

Jordan Chiles of Team at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Getty Images)

Jordan Chiles was stripped of her bronze medal on the floor even at the 2024 Paris Games. Her coach Cecile Landi enquired about the low difficulty score after she was awarded fifth place, which led to the gymnast securing the bronze medal.

However, the medal was later handed to Romania's Ana Barbosu after the appeal of the late inquiry submission by Landi. While Chiles is still battling in the court for the medal, the Romanian will enter the NCAA circuit, where Chiles now competes for UCLA.

With UCLA now joining the Big Ten and Stanford joining the ACC, the university gymnastics teams are still likely to face this season in March.