Gymnast Jordan Chiles Is on Her Way to the Tokyo Olympics — Get to Know Her

Chiles told ESPN that she remembers standing on line for what felt like hours to meet Shawn Johnson after the 2008 Olympic Games. "One day your baby girl will know how much you inspired girls like me (with big muscles and power) to dream," Chiles wrote on Twitter.

She further told POPSUGAR that she also looks up to Dominique Dawes, the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics, as well as two-time Olympian Aly Raisman. Chiles said, of course, that she's inspired every day by Biles, stating, "She's an idol."

Chiles officially launched Melanin Drip Clothing Co. last June. She told POPSUGAR she was going through a hard time, naming the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd specifically. She channeled what she was feeling into creating these clothes with her parents — they have a screen printing machine at home and design everything themselves — because she wanted to embrace who she is as a young Black woman. She's hoping to launch new apparel after the Olympics.

"I am a young black woman, a Melanin Queen, and I wanted to create apparel that speaks loud and honors our royal lineage," Chiles writes on the brand's website, which sells hoodies, shirts, pants, and accessories. "So be proud to rock your big and beautiful natural afro, braid it up, twist it up, loc it, poof it or slay with a silky press and then grab a Melanin Drip hoodie and go be authentically you!"

Chiles's mom, Gina, wrote about her daughter's gymnastics journey in a children's book, Dream Big Little Chick, published in February of 2020. "It was based on Jordan, but I was really thinking of little kids that had their own dream," Gina told NBC Sports. "Especially when things didn't always seem like it could happen." Chick is Chiles's nickname, and the chick in this story aspires to go to the "Animal Olympics."

Chiles is committed to UCLA for collegiate gymnastics, though she has deferred in order to chase her Olympic dream and plans to start school in January of 2022. She told POPSUGAR that besides getting a degree in general business, she's looking to potentially minor in Zoology, if possible, or acting.

Chiles's 2018 Nationals floor routine featured music from Wonder Woman. She also wore an iconic Wonder Woman-inspired leotard, and actress Gal Gadot even gave her a shoutout on Twitter!

Chiles's 2021 floor routine is inspired by the superhero Spider-Man. She told POPSUGAR she came up with the idea after seeing Spider-Man: Far From Home because she was a fan of the music. Here, you can see that routine from this year's US Gymnastics Championships. She also hinted that she might bring a superhero-themed floor routine to UCLA when she attends (she's toying with the idea of something inspired by Green Lantern).

Chiles is always ready for some "Motivation" by Normani, but she also told POPSUGAR that she likes to listen to whatever the hit songs are at the time or even Disney throwbacks.

Chiles's TikTok videos are often set in front of her shoe collection. She told POPSUGAR that her favorite sneakers right now are the Nike Dunk Low Sunset Pulses.