Jordan Chiles' mother, Gina Chiles, lashed back at former gymnast MyKayla Skinner, who opined that the gymnastic women of the US team don't have the talent and depth besides Simone Biles.
At the 2024 US Olympic Gymnastic Trials, Chiles finished in the all-around third with a score of 111.425, thus earning a qualification for the Paris Olympics. Skinner, who watched the gymnasts at the trials, opined that, except for Biles, no other woman gymnast has as much talent and intensity.
"Besides Simone, I feel like that the talent and the depth just isn't what it used to be. I just noticed, I mean obviously, a lot of girls don't work as hard and the girls just don't have the work ethic... To get trained to be into gymnastics, you do have to be a little aggressive and a little intense," Skinner said in her YouTube video.
This didn't sit well with Jordan Chiles' mother, Gina Chiles, who hit back on social media:
"Whoa. She really said that out loud and posted it. That's something...."
Gina moved to Texas with Jordan in 2019 so that the latter could train with Biles at the World Champions Center.
Jordan, the 2022 World Vault silver medalist, competed at the 2024 Hydration Core Classic and earned the all-around bronze behind Simone Biles and Shilese Jones. Her second position on uneven bars and fifth all-around finish at the US Championships earned her a qualification for the Olympic Trials.
Jordan Chiles' mother praises her daughter after US trials qualification
Chiles' impressive performances at the Xfinity US Championships qualified her for the 2024 US Gymnastics Trials. Her mother posted a carousel of photos of her daughter and also penned a heartfelt message, talking about Chiles gritty nature and incredible talent.
"We have watched you be perfect so many times- I mean your hit rate has been impressive over the years but watching you fight back and not just give up when little bumps presented themselves was incredible. Jordan on a imperfect day still SHINES BIG and makes it a good day...." her caption read.
Chiles will take a second trip to the Olympics since she was also a part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team.