"People were racially attacking me" - Jordan Chiles claims she was treated differently during the early years of her gymnastics career

Jordan Chiles claimed that she was racially attacked early in her gymnastics career. Although the Olympic medalist doesn't recall the incidents of racial abuse herself, she revealed being told about the incidents by her mother, Gina Chiles.

Chiles started gymnastics at the age of six. She was enrolled at Naydenov Gymnastics and soon made it to the level 4 competition. Chiles made her national junior debut at the 2012 Junior Olympic Nationals.

The Olympic medalist decided to try elite gymnastics in 2013, making her debut at the 2013 American Classic. Eight years later, she qualified for her maiden Olympic Games and represented the USA at the Tokyo Olympics. Chiles is now set to represent the nation at her second Olympic Games in Paris, and less than a week before she takes the field in Bercy Arena, she is on the digital cover of Teen Vogue.

Although Jordan Chiles is known for her ‘goofy’ character, the gymnast has faced her share of struggles, particularly racism, early in her career. Speaking with Vogue, the Olympic medalist recalled being told by her mother that she was attacked for her color while performing a floor routine.

"Some lady in the crowd basically was like, ‘She doesn’t deserve to be on the floor. She doesn’t even look like anybody else'. People were racially attacking me without me even really knowing. I’m young, so I only know the story because my mom told me. Security had to come and say, ‘Ma’am, she’s doing everything just like everybody else'," she revealed.

Explaining the intensity of the abuse, Chiles added that some of her medals were even taken away from her.

"I’ve gotten medals taken away from me. I’ve been told that my mom wasn’t my mom. I’ve gotten told that I wasn’t Black," the gymnast said.

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Jordan Chiles is now working for the betterment of black athletes

2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Jordan Chiles in action (Photo-Getty)

Despite facing racism and getting her medals taken from her, Jordan Chiles didn't quit gymnastics. It eventually paid off, and now the Olympic medalist doesn't want other Black athletes to go through the same traumatizing experience.

In 2018, Chiles joined Brown Girls Do Gymnastics, a non-profit organization, as part of her attempt to give back to the community.

"The diversity part of everything, I like giving back to any community. I’m a giver. This is my love language. So knowing that I have the ability to help fund or do anything to support their foundation definitely makes me feel so heart-like," Chiles said (via NBC).

The 23-year-old is all set to represent the USA at the Paris Olympics 2024. She qualified for the event after finishing third at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials in June.