Team USA gymnast, Jordan Chiles has returned with a bang. The Oregon-born sportswoman has made it to the prestigious list of athletes for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for 2025. This is another win that could help the 23-year-old forget the unsuccessful battle of reclaiming her forfeited Olympic bronze medal.
Jordan Chiles joined other female sports high-flyers, such as sprinter Gabby Thomas and skiier Eileen Gu, as they graced the pages of America’s largest sports magazine. Others on the list are fellow gymnast Suni Lee, golfer Nelly Korda, Surfer Caroline Marks, and swimmer Ali Truwit.
The outlet revealed on Monday, November 11, 2024, that Chiles would be appearing in the next issue. True to their words, ace photographer Ben Horton released the photos showing Chiles in an adorable swimsuit and a graceful pose. Sports Illustrated released one of the photos via Instagram which came with a caption that read, “Say hello to SI Swimsuit’s newest athlete feature for the 2025 issue — Jordan Chiles!”
In the photo shot, the gymnast shone in her toned figure under a stylish turquoise one-piece cut-out. Chiles’ long hair flowed in the breeze as she stood on one foot with the other in the air close to her outstretched left arm. Her tattoos were pretty visible too.
Her fans were ecstatic and they made their feelings known in the comments. One user remarked, “Are you kidding !!!!! Unreal shawty ❤️🔥❤️🔥.” Another wrote, “Beyond fierce ❤️🔥.”
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What Did Sports Illustrated Say About Jordan Chiles?
Sports Illustrated had some words to describe the 2025 issue. In their statement, they said, “We are thrilled to launch our shoot season for the 2025 issue with an extraordinary lineup of powerful female athletes.” The statement, which was written by the Swimsuit Editor-In-Chief MJ Day, described the list of athletes in glowing terms.
“This remarkable group, featuring Olympic medalists, world champions, and record holders, embodies the next generation of all-stars poised to transform the world of sports,” she wrote. “They defy stereotypes and champion equality, inspiring young girls to envision themselves as both athletes and leaders,” the writeup further stated.”
Jordan Chiles has risen to become an icon in America’s sports scene this year. Despite her success in claiming a gold medal with Team USA in this year’s Olympics, she became more popular after a medal tussle that led to her returning the prize to another athlete.
Which Medal Did Jordan Chiles Lose?
Jordan Chiles’ medal was taken away from her by the International Olympic Committee after the Paris 2024 Olympics. This came following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) which awarded the prize to her Romanian rival, Ana Barbosu.
The fight for the medal’s ownership had begun at the close of the Olympics women’s floor exercise after judges awarded the medal to Barbosu. Chiles and her team protested the award leading the judges to rescind their decision and declare her the winner. Unfortunately, the Romanian sports authorities had the upper hand in court which resulted in Chiles having to forfeit it.
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How Did Chiles Get Bronze on the Floor?
Chiles was the last athlete to compete in the event at the floor exercise. She needed to post a better score than the others who had performed before her if she would have a shot at a medal. Already, the top three athletes had posted scores of 14.166, 14.133, and 13.700 (which was Barbosu’s).
After she made her moves, the judges awarded her a score of 13.666, which took her to 5th place. But after her score became public, her team protested, asking the judges to review their score for a leap. According to her coaches, the judges didn’t give the leap the score it deserved.
After taking a second look, the judges added 0.1 points to her tally, taking her to 3rd place to displace Barbosu who had already begun celebrating. The Romanians were stunned by the decision, and a heartbroken Barbosu left the arena in tears. She also later announced that she would be staying away from social media.
What Happened to Jordan Chiles’ Olympic Medal?
Jordan Chiles, instead of Ann Barbosu, who appeared on the podium for the medals presentation ceremony. She stood alongside her fellow Team USA athlete and the world’s most decorated gymnast, Simone Biles, who came in second place. Brazil’s Rebecca Andrade clinched the gold medal.
Unfortunately, for Chiles, her celebration was about to be short-lived. The Romanians had taken the case to sport’s highest court, CAS. They argued that the USA delegation didn’t protest their score within the time allowed for it. The game’s rules gave the last contestant one minute after their score was released to ask for a review.
The Romanian sports officials argued that Chiles protested her score after one minute. Consequently, the CAS in their August ruling, awarded the medal to Barbosu. After the ruling, Chiles presented evidence that her team protested the score 13 seconds before the one-minute mark.
Unfortunately, the court’s rules state that there can be no reconsideration after it has given a ruling. Jordan Chiles, whose net worth is an estimated $1.5 million, had to return her medal. Thankfully, the grieving athlete had the support of her parents, Timothy and Gina Chiles who have stood by her all through the struggle. Also, their appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue would put a smile on her face.
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