Jordan Chiles is officially making a run for her third Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, and she dropped the news Wednesday with an assist from none other than Michael Jordan himself! After months of staying totally mum on her future, telling NBC Sports back in August that “the wait is still on” regarding her 2028 plans, that wait for a decision is absolutely over. Chiles made the bombshell announcement via an Instagram video, narrated by her namesake, Michael Jordan, and captioned it with a defiant “LA 2028… WHY NOT?” Talk about making an entrance, right?
The Olympic Veteran’s Path To LA
This isn’t some rookie trying out a new sport. Chiles is a two-time Olympic medal winner, a bonafide veteran who knows the Olympic stage inside and out. She helped lead Team USA to a team silver in Tokyo in 2021 and then absolutely crushed it again, earning team gold in Paris in 2024. Not just that, she also snagged an individual bronze medal in the floor competition in Paris, even if that one still has a score adjustment dispute hanging over it. She hasn’t competed internationally since that Paris triumph, but make no mistake, she’s been busy. A Los Angeles resident, Chiles graduated from UCLA in June, where she was an absolute beast for the Bruins, winning four NCAA championships (two on bars, two on floor). In fact, just Tuesday, UCLA announced she’d be returning to their gymnastics program for the 2027 season as a student coach. And then, a day later, she dropped this massive news.
The Fight For A Spot
While Chiles is a decorated and battle-tested Olympian, a spot on that 2028 U.S. Olympic team isn’t just handed out. She’ll have to earn it, just like always, through a combination of trials and selection. But let’s be real, helping lead the USA to two team medals gives her a massive leg up on making that squad. She isn’t alone in targeting LA, either. Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, and Suni Lee, all teammates from the 2024 Olympic team, are also reportedly looking to compete in 2028. And the big question mark, seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles? She told CNN in April she’s “still at 50-50” on whether she’ll make a run for the Games. Chiles jumping in puts another huge name into the mix for what’s shaping up to be an epic battle for those Olympic spots. We’re talking elite gymnastics at its absolute best, and you know Chiles is going to be ready for the grind.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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