NEW YORK — Fresh off a gold and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles has made a significant announcement about her competitive future in gymnastics.
Chiles joined The Today Show on Thursday morning from New York after Team USA's strong showing in the women's gymnastics competition. After the show, Chiles and host Hoda Kotb shared an Instagram video talking about a major announcement the 23-year-old wanted to make.
She competed for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) during the 2022 and 2023 NCAA seasons before coming to the Olympics. Chiles announced with Kotb that she intends to return to the Bruins for the 2025 and 2026 seasons to complete her collegiate eligibility.
Chiles won individual national championships in uneven bars and floor routine during the 2023 NCAAs. She also finished second in the all-around competition.
Now, she will return to the collegiate ranks and continue her career with the Bruins. Western Washington fans who enjoyed Chiles' Olympic performances might be in luck, as UCLA and the University of Washington both joined the Big Ten this month and could face off in an individual meet in Seattle in one of the next two years.
Chiles' individual Paris Olympics bronze medal has been the subject of controversy in recent days, An inquiry by Chiles' coach resulted in the American moving up from fifth to third place in the floor routine finals, past two Romanian gymnastics.
The Romanian Olympic Committee has filed an appeal with the International Gymnastics Federation and the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the decisions, which left both Sabrina Maneca-Voinea and Ana Barbosu off the medal stand.
The Romanian Prime Minister also said he will boycott the Closing Ceremony of the Paris Olympics because of the "scandalous situation."