Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:00:00) – The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by hosts and guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views, thoughts and opinions of UCLA Athletics or UCLA Gymnastics. The content of this podcast is strictly for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
Jordan Chiles (00:00:18) – No matter what room you step into, always understand that you are who you are and that you can be the greatest in any way, shape or form.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:00:32) – Welcome to the Black Gymnast Olympic Dreams edition of the Resilience to Brilliance podcast, where you’ll be inspired by the history and eye-opening accounts from Olympians who live the dream. I’m your host, Kim Hamilton Anthony. Here we go. The Black Gymnast Olympic Dreams edition of Resilience to Brilliance is a short podcast series dedicated to the young black gymnast and their families out there who have the Olympic dream In the 2020 Olympic Trials, you will likely see more black gymnasts competing at this level than ever before, so I thought I’d bring on some individuals who can provide some encouragement and advice for these young athletes and their families on how to navigate the sport of gymnastics while still embracing the skin they’re in.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:01:18) – Also, those who can help us to learn a bit more about the history of black gymnasts, and of course, those who can actually share their own stories of resilience and what it took for them to achieve their own Olympic dreams. We close out this series with 2020 Olympian and 2024 Olympic contender Jordan Chiles. Jordan Chiles is a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, three-time world medalist, and at UCLA, she was a two-time NCAA national champion and nine-time All-American. Whew! That’s a lot! While competing at UCLA, Jordan earned eight perfect tens in only two seasons. While Jordan is continuing to make her mark on the world in so many ways, including another run for the US Olympic team. The two of us sat down for a conversation that I believe will inspire you, maybe even surprise you, but definitely enlighten you. Let’s listen. Hey, Jordan. Welcome to Resilience to Brilliance.
Jordan Chiles (00:02:30) – Hello. Thank you so much for having me.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:02:33) – Thank you for being on. I appreciate you taking the time out of your workout schedule. You got a lot going on right now.
Jordan Chiles (00:02:40) – I do, I do. You know, it’s it’s a little stormy over here in Texas right now. But you know, having
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:02:46) – Is it?
Jordan Chiles (00:02:47) – Yes but having this nice day to talk to you and really excited.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:02:50) – Oh, good. Well I’m excited about our conversation. Now, you know that this is a podcast that is dedicated to the young black gymnast out there who has Olympic dreams, and you meddled in the 2020 Olympics, and then you went off to college at UCLA, and now you are vying for another Olympic run. So tell me, was that a part of the original plan?
Jordan Chiles (00:03:14) – So originally, you know, before the Olympics was even a thing when I first started gymnastics, you know, I was like. You know what? Why don’t I try for the Olympics? Because I was watching in 2008 and everything that kind of played out. I didn’t know if gymnastics was going to be my sport that I would go to the Olympics for. So back in 20, I want to say 12, 2013, I finally realized, okay, you know, I do have this talent.
Jordan Chiles (00:03:42) – I have everything in me to kind of push to this, a huge goal that I’ve always wanted to do ever since I was little. So going to Tokyo. Fun fact I whether I made the Olympics or didn’t make the Olympics, I was always going to be a UCLA Bruin.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:03:58) – Really?
Jordan Chiles (00:03:59) – Like whether I went pro or didn’t. Like I, I didn’t want to go pro whatsoever because I knew I there was more to me than just my sport, and I wanted to experience the college and experience everything about, you know, being in that Bruin family, because so far it’s been amazing. Like, so yeah, after qualifications in 2020, I called my mom and I was like, mom, this is just, you know, I failed everybody. I don’t know what I’m doing. Why am I here? I shouldn’t have been put on the team. Like, I went through this downfall within my gymnastics career at the Olympics.
Kim Hamlton Anthony (00:04:35) – Wow
Jordan Chiles (00:04:36) And keep in mind, that’s the biggest stage you’ll ever be on in life.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:04:4:37) – Exactly
Jordan Chiles (00:04:38) – You know, it’s like when artists sell out their first arena or something like that was just like a huge moment for me. But in that moment, I just felt like I disappointed everyone. So after we came back in, to the United States and all that, I was just like, went to my freshman year of college, which was definitely an interesting experience. But, you know, I wouldn’t change the world for it because at the end of the day, once you start and you feel confident in yourself and you feel everything that’s within you, you know you’re going to have fun. So I think the first three months I was like, you know what? Let me try for Worlds because I was the only the only athlete on the gymnastics team that I never went to a Worlds before an Olympics. So I was like, you know, let me go for a Worlds. So I went to 2022 Worlds, and I kind of from there. It took me a while to really be like, okay, Paris is on my mind. Yes. Did I say it to my mom when I came back? Like, why don’t I just try for another Olympics? Like, I feel like I can give more, but not until after this 2023, because I went back after Worlds, I went back to UCLA, which is pretty crazy because, like, I have not had a break whatsoever between college and pro and college and pro and
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:5:50) – Wow.
Jordan Chiles (00:05:51) – so I kind of just put myself in a position now to where I’m like, okay, I’m going to hone in on everything that I have have, everything that I got and kind of pushe to a limit where I know I can give my 100%. So Paris has always been on my mind, but in the midst of everything, it’s been, you know, kind of… yes do I want to do it or no do I want to do I want to do it? Yes. Do I want to? Nah, I’m good. So like now I, you know,
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:06:18) – What made you hesitate?
Jordan Chiles (00:06:19) – I think it was more so like I didn’t want to have people like, disappoint, like, feel disappointed, like, oh, she went for another Olympics like, and she didn’t make the team or she went to another Olympics, and you know why or why did she, you know, she’s already accomplished so much. so that was kind of like the hesitation. And also there was some things within my life that kind of changed.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:06:40) – Okay,
Jordan Chiles (00:06:41) – I lost two family members that were really, dearly close to me, my aunt and my grandpa, in the same year.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:06:46) – I’m so sorry.
Jordan Chiles (00:06:47) – I was in hospitals because of an incident with my sister, so, like, my whole year was just, you know, crazy. So my mind wasn’t really focused on Paris. It was just like, what is happening within my life? Like, this doesn’t feel right whatsoever. So that’s like kind of where the hesitation came in.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:07:06) – Wow. That’s a lot of pressure. You’re thinking about what other people may be thinking about your choice to come back. Will you disappoint them? And then you have these very important family issues going on that you needed to give attention to. So how were you able to get past those things? Not that you necessarily, you know, get over losing family members, but how were you able to work through that and come out on the other end saying, you know what, I’m going to try it again.
Jordan Chiles (00:07:38) – I think the hardest part was my family knowing that, you know, you wish you were with them.
Jordan Chiles (00:07:45) – You know, you wish it was it was you instead of them. but I had to realize no matter what, they’re always going to be looking down on me and being proud. For instance, my grandpa has this saying “where you are I have been, where I am you will be.” And that’s something that has stuck with us for a very long time, because it is true, you know, eventually we will be able to be with him, we will be able to see him again.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:08:08) – Yes
Jordan Chiles (00:08:09) – And I’ve been able to have that support system that I’ve needed from, you know, my college teammates and my teammates here and family and friends and meeting new people, not even having the same friends going into a year, like realizing that there’s so much more to you than you being stuck in one place. One mindset. Yes did I go through a lot of mental aspects of things? 100%, but I had to remember that I’m one Jordan and one Jordan only. No one can really control my life unless I’m controlling it, and I needed to really step in past that barrier of understanding.
Jordan Chiles (00:08:41) – Like those things are going to be in the past. Those things are not going to be, you know, something that you’ll be able to dwell on and always cry about. And yes, I had my moment of crying and, you know.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:08:53) – Of course
Jordan Chiles (00:08:54) – Yes, I had my moment of, you know, grieving on those times. But it’s time to push past. It’s time to go to the next level. It’s time to, you know, put your mind in a position to where you’re there. so that was kind of one part of that really helped me. But then also realizing that I’m an Olympian.
Jordan Chiles (00:09:12) – That is not going to get taken away from me. I’ve been an amazing, you know, friend, best friend. Like, I just realized a lot within that time frame that no one can really take those titles away from me because I’ve already done it. And so that’s kind of where I am now, where I’m just like, okay, at the end of the day, whatever happens, happens. And, you know, I’m going to be proud of myself no matter what.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:09:39) – So it feels like you actually don’t have that pressure that you thought you would have when you were, you know, contemplating, you know, do I continue this journey or not? And that is a freeing place to be. So how has that affected you in the gym as an athlete?
Jordan Chiles (00:10:00) – Knowing that I don’t have like that much pressure. It’s helped. But also it’s like. How come I don’t have it? How come I don’t feel like you know, I’m competing in two weeks, how come I don’t feel like. But again, it can, it can hit me 100% like when it gets closer. I do say like it could hit me at any point in time, but I just feel at ease. I feel, you know, going into the gym is more of, okay, you’re going to go and do your work, get out, and I don’t talk about gymnastics when I get home. I talk about, you know, oh, what is my friend doing? I’ll be on FaceTime.
Jordan Chiles (00:10:38) – You know, I’ll play with my dogs, watch a movie.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:10:41) – That’s good.
Jordan Chiles (00:10:42) – So I think being able to separate the two have helped a lot within that. But in the gym, I’m just constantly, you know, making jokes, having fun, trying new skills. You know, if I fall, yes, I get frustrated, but I’m gonna get back up and redo it and figure out my, like, my problem. So. I just kind of, you know, I got a relaxed stage.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:11:03) – Yes.
Jordan Chiles (00:11:04) – I just turned 23, so I’m, like, at a relaxed stage in my, in my life that I’m just like, okay.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:11:09) – Yes.
Jordan Chiles (00:11:10) – This is not the end of the world. There’s only one part of my book that I have, you know, there’s only one part of my chapters, this is only one part of my puzzle piece that I’m fitting into, you know, to make that beautiful picture of mine. So right now I’m just, you know, taking it day by day and month by month really.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:11:26) – Oh, I love to hear that. And it’s it’s funny how you talked about I don’t feel this pressure. I feel relaxed. And then you ask yourself, why do I feel so relaxed? Why don’t I feel the pressure? And it’s so funny when you live under pressure for so long and then all of a sudden you have this mind shift, mindset shift and then you’re, you know, living out your brilliance in a different way that’s more confident and comfortable. Sometimes we do kind of second guess, shouldn’t I be this?
Jordan Chiles (00:11:58) Yeah.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:11:59) – But I just encourage you to walk in that strength, walk in that confidence. And I’m so excited to to watch you to just see you do your thing.
Jordan Chiles (00:12:07) – Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. That means a lot. Because you know what? There’s a lot of times when as a just like me being who I am, like an athlete, especially being black in this world of ours, I definitely, you know, you never understand truly.
Jordan Chiles (00:12:22) – Well, me personally, I can’t speak for everybody else, but I never understand truthfully how many people I can uplift and inspire until an incident happens, until something happens and I run into somebody because there’s times where I’m walking and, you know, a little girl maybe like, oh my gosh, like, that’s Jordan Chiles or oh my gosh, like, I’ve always wanted to meet you. And it’s just like I realized so much on what the impact that I put on people, that I wish I could see. You know, I wish I can have a double body and just be like, okay, let me see what I’m doing within myself. So, you know, I don’t I don’t have that taken away from me. And, you know, I always try to be the same person I am with each and every person. And whether you may not like me or maybe you do like at the end of the day, you know, I just kind of feel very like joyful and happy that I am able to do that. So when you say that, it just makes me feel like, oh, wow, like that’s crazy.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:13:18) – Oh, well, I mean, I love hearing how you’re impacting others because we know it’s happening, but you don’t always get a chance to see it because you’re you’re doing your thing, you’re training, you’re in the gym. You’re you know, you’re focused and and I love how you said that you’re able to separate your gymnastics from your outside life.
Jordan Chiles (00:13:39) – Yeah.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:13:40) – And there have been studies done about how important that is for any high level athlete, any elite athlete. And they actually found out that the the greatest athletes do just that. And they’re able to have fun. They’re able to think about other things other than their sport. And something happens in the brain. I’m not going to try to butcher it or anything and make up something for you, but there’s something that happens in the brain that allows you to, you know, compete at the highest level when you are able to step away. So that is fun.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:14:12) – That, I mean, I love hearing it because in our sport, that doesn’t always happen, right?
Jordan Chiles (00:14:19) – I can tell you the very first time that I was able to like separate the two was actually after my freshman year, of college when I realized, you know, yes, being in the gym is fun and all, but also there’s more to do outside of the gym. You know, you can go to, whether it’s another academic that, you know, find friends, like, I was in a black student like, study, that I was able to, you know, communicate and actually feel my normal self in a classroom.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:14:48) – Interesting.
Jordan Chiles (00:14:49) – And that was like, this is cool. This is great. This is amazing. So and like a lot of our assignments, you know, you have a group that you go with and you kind of, you know, discover like ask them questions. And so like understanding that during my freshman year I was like, wait a minute. If I can do that here, why can’t I do that, you know, when I’m in trouble and I can just, you know, discover different things and that’s something that I, I’m, I’m all about being able to find different talents that I say talents within yourself.
Jordan Chiles (00:15:18) – Yes, you can have a sport, but you also can be in architecture. Yes, you have a sport. You also can be a nail designer. Yes. Like, you know, there’s different things that people have within them. But I feel like sometimes they can’t embrace it because they are only focusing on one. And for me, I was like, no, I’m not going to just focus on my sport like I’m going to go have fun. I’m going to go to the mall with my friends. I’m going to go out to dinner. I’m going to go watch a movie, go bowling, go watch football games, basketball games, whatever it is, because that’s how life is supposed to be. You’re supposed to be able to, you know, yes, you have a career and job, but also you can still enjoy life as well. And so I brought that back into the elite world. And I was like, oh, this is great. This is cool. This is fun.
Jordan Chiles (00:15:59) – People are always asking me, you’re here and here and here, like, because I have to like, my brain constantly goes, goes, go. So in order for me to kind of like come to a peaceful place to keep enjoying my sport, that’s what I do have to do.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:16:16) – That’s so good. That is good. Now.
Jordan Chiles (00:16:18) – Thank you.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:16:19) – We talked about resilience. You talked about the resilience you needed to get through all of the things that was happening with your family. Can you talk about a time and maybe you already mentioned it. Maybe it was the 2020 Olympics and coming out of that and, you know, continuing this journey. But can you talk about a time when in your gymnastics career, when you just had to be resilient in order to make it through because there was no other way?
Jordan Chiles (00:16:48) – I definitely would have to say the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and especially team finals. I’m pretty sure you saw everything that happened with, my teammate, my bestie Simone. So being in that position, being first of all, being put in somebody’s shoes like that was the most hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my life.
Jordan Chiles (00:17:10) – And I didn’t want to disappoint her. I didn’t want to make her feel like, you know, what she was doing was bad because there was already people saying a lot of things. So for me, in that moment, I knew I had to, be resilient within myself and kind of block everything out. I wanted to be able to kind of understand I’m being put in this position for a reason. It’s not because, you know, all these other things are happening around me is because this is a test. I felt like that was a test from God trying to tell me, okay, you’re here for a reason. This is why you’re on the team. This is why you’re doing everything that you’re doing. Because in these moments, you’re the one that they’re going to pick. So I again, I always tell people, I bet it was like 15 minutes for you guys that felt like three seconds for me. Like being told to go do this, do that. And, just getting that confidence to understand, okay, I’m going to go up here, do everything that I need to do because it’s a team event.
Jordan Chiles (00:18:04) – And I how I overcame that was basically understanding that I’ve put not just one year, not just two, but my whole entire life to be on this stage. And I wanted to prove and show people that I’m here for a reason, that I’m here to stay. Basically, like, y’all can’t tell me otherwise. Y’all can’t. You know, you can’t tell me. You can’t tell me this, that or the other because this is where I’m supposed to be. So that experience has definitely been something that I always take back to and always remember, because in that moment, I felt confident. I felt the Jordan that needed to be there. I felt, you know, that that supporter or that big sister, that little sister, whatever it was in that moment. And I was able to shine and shine as bright as I could to, you know, help our team get to that medal for sure.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:18:52) – I think about the lessons that we learn. They usually come from a place of hardship. It’s not when you’re, you know, standing on the podium and you’re winning it’s not, that’s not when you learn and get that depth of learning.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:19:07) – It’s when you go through the difficult times, how has the situation you just described during the 2020 Olympics, how has that changed you as a person?
Jordan Chiles (00:19:19) – Well, I’ll tell you, it’s changed me a lot. It’s made me realize a lot within myself that the reason why I’m in this sport isn’t because truly of my talent, but it’s more about my presence
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:19:34) – Hmm
Jordan Chiles (00:19:35) – and about who I am. I can say yes, I am talented, I do have a gift that was given from God, and I do take that into accountability. And like I’m always going to use whatever God gave me. I’ma make it and use it to the fullest. So after that day and after that time period, I definitely can say like it made me think. If that was not even a portion of me being put out there, how much more can I give so it’s 100% of me?
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:20:07) – Wow.
Jordan Chiles (00:20:08) – To be seen. And now that I kind of, you know, two years, three years later, I’ve been in a position to where, yes, I can speak on, you know, mental health.
Jordan Chiles (00:20:17) – Yeah, I, yes, I can be able to speak about my story that happened in the past that my old coach. Yeah. That yes. I can speak about, you know, times where people may need help, whether it’s with a relationship, whether it’s with, you know, certain things, whether it’s with their own sport. So now I’ve been able to really just look back at myself and be like, if it wasn’t for that moment or if it wasn’t for, you know, people always telling me you had more to give or more to see or more so put out into the world.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:20:47) – Yes.
Jordan Chiles (00:20:48) – Then I wouldn’t be right here, right now being able to, you know, speak about it, because I do. There’s a story that I do have. There are a lot of things that I do have, you know, to say about my life. but definitely I can say that did change. And it made me feel like no matter what, whatever place I step into, I’ll be able to still be the Jordan I need to be.
Jordan Chiles (00:21:10) – No matter. You know the times that I have to, you know, maneuver myself. I can still be that Jordan and I always tell these to people. I think of my my life as a puzzle. So you know how you start with the border, right? You start with the the border of a puzzle piece. And so when I think of the border of the puzzle piece, it’s like you growing and you’re in this and then you start, you know, I’m graduating and making the border.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:21:34) – Right
Jordan Chiles (00:21:35) – And the stuff on the inside is all the things that you kind of, you know, it’s hard to see the picture because you have to pick up a piece. You have to see if the piece fits, and if it doesn’t, you gotta keep turning it and you gotta keep fixing it. And so that’s how I think of my life, because there are times there. There were times I should say that I did have to do that, you know, whether it was moving, whether it was the Olympic experience, whether it was me coming back, whether it was me going to school, whether it was me just being in the position of me losing two family members.
Jordan Chiles (00:22:03) – Like, that’s just how I see, see life, really. So,
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:22:09) – Yeah
Jordan Chiles (00:22:10) – this is just one piece of my puzzle that is only going to be put in the right spot at the right time.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:22:15) – Yes, exactly. And all of those little pieces of your life, Jordan, are going to create this beautiful masterpiece. Absolutely gorgeous.
Jordan Chiles (00:22:26) – Thank you.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:22:27) – Now, Jordan, it’s been interesting talking with other Black Olympians about their experience. And it’s it’s wild because some who are from other countries, they have a totally different experience than the African American gymnast. And there might even be some people who look at all of the black gymnasts who are competing at the Olympic level now and they say, oh, I’m sure there’s nothing that they’re going through that people like me, you know, I was in the 1984 Olympic trials. They don’t have to go through that kind of stuff anymore. So I never want to assume that there is some there are issues that you may have experienced that your teammates who don’t look like you don’t have to experience.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:23:14) – But I do want to ask the question, what has been your experience as a black gymnast?
Jordan Chiles (00:23:20) – Well, I can say I’m very proud to be an African American competing in the sport, let alone just sports in general. I’m very proud to be able to have the younger generation look up to me and be like, if she can do what I can do it. I know that saying is always said, but it’s for real. If she can do it, I can do it.
Kim Hamiton Anthony (00:23:39) – It’s true.
Jordan Chiles (00:23:40) – And my experience wasn’t like the typical, you know, like my friends. Like you said, it’s not typical. There has been times where I have been looked at, and I can give you one story. I was competing, I was really little. And basically, there was lady, this mom in the crowd and saying that I I shouldn’t be on the floor. She screamed it. She said that thing shouldn’t be on the floor.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (0023:09) Whoa.
Jordan Chiles (00:24:10) – I only noticed because my mom told me the story. So, like, if I truly could tell you how I felt, I don’t know how I felt. I was young
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:24:16) – Yes.
Jordan Chiles (00:24:17) – But when I think about it, I probably was, like, confused. I was confused, like, why does she say that? And what? What did she like? What was that for? So that experience, you know, I didn’t realize I was getting like racial slurs and racial experiences until I got older, until, you know, my coach told me my mom was my mom because she wasn’t black. You know, my like,
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:24:42) – Oh my God
Jordan Chiles (00:24:43) – one time, yeah, one time she cut my braids out.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:24:46) – No, no
Jordan Chiles (00:24:47) – Yeah.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:24:48) – Noooo.
Jordan Chiles (00:24:49) – Yeah. There is. That was my experience. Yes, it was my experience. And the only reason why people always are always, like telling me your execution is so good, Which I appreciate or thank you very much, but the only reason why my execution is so good is because I always got basically, like, tapped in the stomach 24/7 like all the time. Like for no reason. Like, what are you doing? But then I realized, like. Because at that time, I thought it was because I was being body-shamed. I always got weighed because I wasn’t the typical weight. I always wasn’t supposed to eat a certain thing, like, there’s there’s a lot, before, I don’t even want to go into the deepness part of it, but, like.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:25:32) – That’s okay.
Jordan Chiles (00:25:33) – There was a lot that I did go through at a young age. Even within the judging, even within, you know, the the way you’re supposed to look onto a competition floor, you know. But I decided now as I got older, when I say around 19, 18, 19 years old, and I was like. There shouldn’t be a thing where people have to look at you just because you’re in gymnastics and you have to be that certain, tall, long hair in a in a tight bun, you know, like that. that statistic.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:26:16) – Right
Jordan Chiles (00:26:17) – Like it doesn’t need to be known that that’s what you’re supposed to do.
Jordan Chiles (00:26:18) – So I decided to go out the ring. I’m the only I’m the only black gymnast who wears long nails because who does that? Like, my nails are long. Like I’m the only black gymnast who actually does crazy things with her hair. Whether it’s braids, output clips in them, I’ll put, you know, I did like one time I did Wakanda Forever look a like.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:26:38) – Did you?
Jordan Chiles (00:26:39) – I wanted to change that culture of what it’s supposed to look like. So now me being a black athlete, I’m like, of course I’m gonna do anything that I can to be able to show that younger generation that you can go out there and be the beautiful person that you are. My mom taught me that. My mom taught me, you know, no matter what, you look at yourself in the mirror and you tell yourself you’re beautiful.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:27:01) – Yes
Jordan Chiles (00:27:02) – You tell yourself you’re you’re that person like, you know, give yourself those affirmations that you need so you can wake up every morning and be okay with yourself because it’s that that’s what I started thinking as well.
Jordan Chiles (00:27:11) – I don’t like social media whatsoever. And yes, I’ve had hate comments and I’ve had a bunch of million different things come at me. But when I look at them, I’m like, if you have the ability to write somebody a hate comment, then obviously there’s something within yourself that you don’t like.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:27:32) – Yep.
Jordan Chiles (00:27:33) And so that’s what I’ve taking. So people always, Jordan, how do you take this hate comment? I don’t know I just ignore it. There’s obviously there’s something within themself that they can’t handle, which I pray every day that people can fix that within themselves and that they can, you know, look at themselves and be okay with them. But again, not everybody likes to change. So yeah, being a black athlete is really cool now. I really enjoy it. It’s really times like I do. I enjoy being the person I am. I enjoy my personality. I enjoy, you know, having the ability to be Jordan Chiles, like, I don’t want to be anybody else. I’m not the next Gabby Douglas. I’m not the next Simone Biles. I’m not the next Dominique Dawes. As many people always said that when I was younger, I’m the next Jordan Chiles, and I will forever be the next Jordan child.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:28:19) – The one and only.
Jordan Chiles (00:28:20) – I really experienced. Yes, I realy experienced this, like cool, unique, different way of trying to transform myself into that beautiful, outgoing, hype fun girl that people needed to see.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:28:35) – This is so fun to hear, Jordan. Because on one hand I hear, you know the things that you faced as a young athlete. But ignorance is bliss, right? You mentioned God earlier. God protected you from hearing those types of things so that you could continue on your journey. And then you grow up and you’re like, you know what? I’m just going to be authentically, unapologetically me. That’s just who I am. And to watch you is so much fun. I have to tell you, because you do not hold back Jordan Chiles, you do not hold back for sure.
Jordan Chiles (00:29:14) – Thank you.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:29:15) – So, so talk to the young black gymnast who’s listening. And she’s maybe heard some of the things that you’ve heard. She’s maybe overheard some conversations about her, and maybe she’s feeling a little less than, like, yeah, I’m good. You know, I’m talented, but I don’t know if I could ever make it to the Olympics or ever, you know, become a collegiate gymnast. Speak to that person who’s just discouraged. And they they aren’t as strong as you are right now and aren’t able to be their authentic selves. They feel like they have to shut that off when they’re in the gym.
Jordan Chiles (00:29:55) – Well, I would say to any young athlete out there, whether it’s in my sport or not in my sport, like I just say it in general, an athlete, you have the ability to put your mind to anything. I’ll go with my quote. “Always believe in the power of your dreams” because your dreams are very powerful. There’s something about them that you know you can’t contain.
Jordan Chiles (00:30:13) – But once you fulfill that dream, you’ll forever be able to cherish and love that memory. When it comes to your voice. Use it. If it gets you in trouble, oh well. Because at the end of the day, you’ll be able to feel more confident once in yourself. That was one thing I wish I was able to do when I was younger was to use my voice, speak out, speak out on things that I couldn’t change. So when it comes to a dream of yours or a talent, or you just waking up in the morning going to school, always remember there’s only one you and one you only. Being authentic to who you are is only going to bring you the greatest and the most amazing friends, family, support system that you may need. And if you ever need to talk to anybody, go to a teacher. Go to the nearest you know friend that you may have. Go to, whether it’s somebody random, it could be a sports psychologist, it could be a therapist, and actually speak about things that you may have inside you that you can’t tell others.
Jordan Chiles (00:31:16) – That’s what I did. I wasn’t able to really speak a lot of things to my parents, but I knew if I went to a stranger, I was able to speak about it. So don’t dim your light too dark because you’re brighter than all the stars in the sky. And that’s always something that I really like pay attention to because the way you shine is the way that people see you. The way you walk into a room, and the way that people are always going to talk about you. And if they ain’t talking about you, then you must not be doing something. So, again, I do have to say to those younger athletes, you know, just be the authentic, unapologetic like you. Because at the end of the day, there’s only one of you and just run with it. Go have fun. I always tell people, have fun, do you. You know, there’s nothing in this world, you know, that can change anything. This world is already crazy enough, so why not live it to the fullest? You know you only have one life to live so live as much as you can.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:32:17) – Such great advice, Jordan. It really is.
Jordan Chiles (00:32:22) – Thank you.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:32:22) – Now I want to close out my time with you with two questions. And the first question is one that I ask all of my guests. And that is what does living in BrillianceMode look like for you?
Jordan Chiles (00:32:33) – Living in BrillianceMode is being able to give the understandings of the younger generation or older generation, depending on who’s listening, that no matter what room you step into, always understand that you are who you are and that you can be the greatest in any way, shape or form. For me, I like being able to, you know, whether it’s giving back, whether it’s, you know, walking and helping the homeless, whether it’s building a community, whether I’m actually helping somebody at the gym. So in that moment of you feeling that confidence in yourself, that’s where that brilliance comes in. Because, look, me, I will if I could, I will give every single person, everything that they need.If it’s the last penny I have in my pocket, I will give it to that person, because that’s just who I am. So, and always remember your personality, don’t let people shut it out. Because that was one thing that I, I wish I didn’t when I was younger, so just don’t let people shout it out. I’m using my personality and everything that I do. So yeah, that’s that’s my brilliance.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:33:48) – That is definitely your brilliance. And so that brings me to my last question. And you did a little bit of that as you were explaining what BrillianceMode looks like for you. And the question is, well, I want you to paint a picture for the mind of the young gymnast listening about what living in BrillianceMode might look like for them.
Jordan Chiles (00:34:11) – Say they’re 10, 11 years old. They’re walking into their gym and they feel this light shining on them. And they feel the confidence and the encouragement and the support system that they have through each and every practice.
Jordan Chiles (00:34:32) – And they can just enjoy and have fun with something that they’ve always dreamed of. And at the end, the reality may come true. Their imagination may come true of them becoming the best person that they ever could become.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:34:49) – I love it. Thank you, Jordan, I appreciate you taking time to spend with me today and all the best.
Jordan Chiles (00:35:00) – No, thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed this and whoever’s listening, I hope you get all the advice and the energy that you may need. So I really appreciate this. And, this was fun.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:35:14) – It was fun for me too.
Jordan Chiles (00:35:15) – Yay!
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:35:18) – Thanks for listening. If you want to learn more about Jordan Chiles, check out our show notes on InBrillianceMode.com/podcast and to connect with Jordan on Instagram, follow her at JordanChiles. If you’ve enjoyed this episode of Resilience to Brilliance, please share it with others who may be encouraged by it. And to make sure you don’t miss future episodes, please follow or subscribe to the Resilience to Brilliance podcast on YouTube and on your favorite podcast platforms.
Kim Hamilton Anthony (00:35:48) – You can also follow me on Instagram at RealKimAnthony. Any use of this podcast without the express written consent of BrillianceMode LLC is prohibited.
