Key Takeaways:
- It’s Never Too Late to Bet on Yourself
- Setbacks Don’t Have to Define the Next Chapter
- Success Can Evolve Into New Forms of Leadership
Jordan Chiles’ comeback to elite gymnastics has her setting her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where she hopes to make her third Olympic appearance. The 25-year-old American gymnast announced her plans on September 2 through a video narrated by basketball legend Michael Jordan, ending with the message, “LA 2028… WHY NOT?”
The Jordan Chiles comeback comes after she stepped away from elite competition following the Paris Olympics in 2024. She has already competed at two Games, winning a team silver medal with the United States at Tokyo 2020 and helping Team USA claim team gold in Paris.
Her potential return to the Olympic stage is particularly significant because the 2028 Games will be held in Los Angeles, the city Chiles now calls home. Rather than returning because of external expectations, Chiles has described the decision as another opportunity to pursue something she still wants for herself.
The announcement video reflected that approach. Michael Jordan’s narration focused on the idea that athletes can continue pursuing their ambitions even when others believe their careers should have reached their end. Chiles then delivered the final response herself: “Why not?”
The comeback also comes shortly after Chiles began a new role at UCLA. On September 1, she was announced as a student coach for the Bruins’ 2027 season, allowing her to remain closely connected to the sport while preparing for a return to elite competition.
Jordan chiles comeback after a complicated olympic chapter
Chiles’ decision to return carries added weight because of what happened during the Paris Games.
She initially won the bronze medal in the women’s floor exercise final after an inquiry from her coaching team increased her score. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later ruled that the inquiry had been submitted after the permitted deadline. Her score was subsequently reduced, moving Romania’s Ana Bărbosu into third place and removing Chiles from the podium.
Chiles has continued to challenge the decision and is awaiting the outcome of her appeal. The controversy became one of the defining moments of her Paris experience, even though she had already helped the United States win Olympic gold in the team competition.
Her Paris campaign also produced a historic moment. Chiles stood alongside Simone Biles and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade on the floor exercise podium, creating the first all-Black podium in Olympic gymnastics history.
The Jordan Chiles comeback gives the gymnast a chance to write another chapter in her Olympic career. Instead of allowing the controversy surrounding Paris to become the conclusion of her Olympic story, Chiles is choosing to compete again and potentially pursue another medal on home soil.
Her credentials remain strong. Chiles completed her collegiate career at UCLA in 2026 as a four-time NCAA champion and 23-time All-American. She also recorded 19 perfect 10s during her college career and won the 2026 AAI Award, which recognises the nation’s top senior gymnast.
A crowded race toward Los Angeles
Chiles will face significant competition if she is to secure a place on the 2028 US Olympic team. Several members of the 2024 Olympic champion team are already pursuing their own comebacks.
Suni Lee announced her return to gymnastics in July, while Jade Carey resumed elite competition in June. Hezly Rivera is also targeting another Olympic appearance. Chiles therefore becomes the fourth member of the Paris gold-medal team to publicly set her sights on Los Angeles.
Simone Biles, the most decorated American gymnast in history, has not yet confirmed whether she will attempt a return for the 2028 Games. If she does compete, the battle for places on the US team could become even more competitive.
For Chiles, the road ahead will require a return to the demands of elite training after nearly two years away from international competition. Her transition from collegiate gymnastics to student coaching also gives her an unusual position as she prepares for her own comeback.
A third Olympic appearance is far from guaranteed. She will need to regain competitive form, navigate the selection process, and earn a place among one of the world’s strongest gymnastics teams.
But the goal is now clear. After Olympic success, controversy, a decorated college career and a period away from elite competition, Jordan Chiles is choosing to bet on herself once again.
And with Los Angeles 2028 approaching, her answer to why she is returning is simple: **why not?**
