Jordan Chiles breaks silence on racism and body shaming hidden behind gymnastics glory

Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles has recently opened up about the stereotypes she faced early in her gymnastics career. In a candid conversation on Keke Palmer’s podcast, “Baby, this is Keke Palmer”, Chiles revealed how she did not fit the traditional expectations of what a gymnast was “supposed” to look like. Chiles also discussed the racial discrimination she had to face, including how some people questioned whether she belonged in the sport. Despite these experiences, Chiles has risen to become one of the most inspiring gymnasts in the world. The discussion also touched on her current life, including balancing her senior year at UCLA with competing on Dancing with the Stars.Jordan Chiles explained that in her early days, she felt she did not match the appearance of a “typical” gymnast. Speaking on the podcast, she said, “So it, there’s a typical way of how gymnasts were supposed to be, and it was, you know, skinny girls, white, blonde ponytails. And so it was just to her, I guess it didn’t look professional.” Keke Palmer immediately supported her statement, saying, “So yet again, another form of racism, microaggressive, subtle.”Chiles also shared a painful memory from her childhood training. She revealed, “Actually, it’s actually in my book; my coach didn’t believe my mom was my mom because I was black, but my mom’s Latin, that’s not your mom. Why can’t that be my mom?” She added that she always knew her identity clearly: “It’s my mama. And she’s like, I have no other mother.”Notably, Chiles was born to Timothy Chiles, who is African-American, and Gina Valesquez Chiles, who is of Latin American descent.Meanwhile, alongside her athletic career, Chiles is currently balancing academics and entertainment. She recently shared how she manages her UCLA workload while competing in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. “This quarter, I told my coaches and my academic counselor, ‘Hey, can we make sure everything is online? Because that’s going to be the easiest for me’”, she said. The gymnast noted that this flexibility helps her stay focused during her senior year.Jordan Chiles previously led the UCLA Bruins to the NCAA Championship finals, where they finished as runners-up. Her journey shows her incredible strength both on and off the mat.Also Read: "Right to own choices"- Simone Biles gets candid about her secret cosmetic surgeries and body image battles