Simone Biles Got Creative in Lifting Jordan Chiles’ Spirits After Medal Controversy

Aside from a lengthy statement about being stripped of her Olympic bronze medal and two cryptic Instagram stories in which she posted quotes about living a drama-free life and “healing from things she didn’t deserve,” Jordan Chiles has been radio silent over the last few weeks.

Taking a self-induced break from social media, the 23-year-old Olympic medalist has kept a low profile amid being one of the biggest stories in the sports world since the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Though Chiles has seemingly been M.I.A. for several weeks now, that hasn’t stopped her teammates — specifically, Simone Biles — from trying to cheer her up during one of the more difficult times of her career.

“I know she’s not on social media, but some of the funny things I’ve seen, I said, ‘Okay, Jordan, can I send you something that I think you would really like right now?’” Biles told People.com. “And so I’ve sent her little things, and it was like one of them was these four or five girls guarding a medal, and I thought that was the cutest. And then I sent her Flavor Flav ’s bronze [medal he made for her] and then I sent her LeBron [James ]’s tweet. So just things to uplift her and know that she still has that support all-around.”

Chiles has been at the center of one of the most bizarre and frustrating sports debacles in recent memory.

She was stripped of her bronze medal weeks ago by the International Olympics Organization after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling declared her score inquiry during the floor exercise in Paris void, despite USA Gymnastics submitting video proof that the inquiry was actually submitted in time.

International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) president Morinari Watanabe issued an unenthusiastic apology days ago, essentially blaming the Chiles controversy on the FIG not having the proper technology to score routines correctly, but his admission didn’t lead to Chiles getting her medal back.

Presumably disappointed, Chiles taking time to herself away from the limelight is what many, including Biles, believe was best for her.

“I did talk to her on one of the days, and I was like, ‘You know what, Jordan, you have to feel all these feels. Don’t let these emotions stop you. This will be the healthiest way to get all of this out,’” Biles added.

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