Simone Biles is in Jordan Chiles’ corner.
Chiles made headlines this month when she was stripped of a bronze medal in the floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a Romanian gymnast taking third place instead.
After the heartbreaking news, Biles has become a major support for Chiles. “We’ve been FaceTiming, texting, just being girls,” Biles told People. “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.’”
For Biles, Chiles remains “that girl.”
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The 11-time Olympic medalist continued, “We saw what you did. And it’s an unfortunate circumstance because something like this has never happened before and it’s truly a shame, but we wish all three girls could get the medal, and unfortunately in gymnastics that’s not the case."
"Do we think they did the correct procedures to come to this ruling?” Biles asked. “No. That’s really why we want that justice for Jordan and why we’re going to keep supporting her and uplifting her.”
The two gymnasts are gearing up for the Gold Across America Tour, which begins next month, and for which Biles is a headliner. Fellow Team USA gymnasts Jade Carey, Hezly Rivera, Fred Richard, Paul Juda, and Brody Malone will also join them.
In the meantime, Biles is sending her teammate funny memes and supportive messages from social media, including Flavor Flav’s tweet about getting a bronze clock necklace made, and LeBron James reposting a photo of Chiles from Team USA's X account that read, "Forever THAT GIRL."
The Court of Arbitration for Sport decided earlier in August that the scoring inquiry submitted by Chiles' coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi came in four seconds after the allotted time of one minute. The bronze medal was returned to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu.
Chiles also spoke up following the controversy.
"I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey. To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful,” she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. "I've poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country.”
