Jordan Chiles Announces Return to Elite Gymnastics for LA28 Olympics
- Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles announced her intention on Wednesday, Sept.
- Chiles collaborated with several prominent figures to launch her campaign for the Los Angeles Games.
- Before formally revealing her elite comeback, UCLA announced on Tuesday, Sept.
Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles announced her intention on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, to return to elite gymnastics and train for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, aiming for her third Olympic appearance.
The 25-year-old athlete shared her comeback plans through a digital announcement video built around a straightforward question, asking viewers, Why not?
Chiles previously helped the United States women’s gymnastics team capture gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics and won a team silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
A Star-Studded Announcement Video for LA28
Chiles collaborated with several prominent figures to launch her campaign for the Los Angeles Games. NBA legend Michael Jordan, the namesake for the gymnast, narrated the announcement video, framing the decision as just one more bet on herself.
The visual project also featured appearances from singer Normani and model Winnie Harlow, alongside a custom grill reading LA28
created by Houston’s Paul Wall and celebrity jeweler Johnny Dang. LA28 isn’t about proving anything to anyone,
Chiles said in a statement provided to ESPN. It’s about betting on myself one more time, enjoying the journey and seeing just how far I can take this.
UCLA Coaching Role and Return to the Gym
Before formally revealing her elite comeback, UCLA announced on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, that Chiles would return to the university program as a student coach under head coach Janelle McDonald while pursuing her competitive goals.
Chiles wrapped up a standout collegiate career at UCLA that included 19 perfect 10 scores and individual NCAA titles on the bars and floor exercise, earning the AAI Award as the nation’s top senior gymnast. Jordan has made an incredible impact on our program over the years,
McDonald said in a statement. I’m excited to watch her continue that influence in a new capacity as she steps into this next chapter with student coaching.
Historical Context and Fellow Comebacks
With her decision, Chiles joins a growing cohort of elite American gymnasts targeting a home Olympics. She is the fourth member of the Paris gold-medal squad to announce a training run for 2028, following Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera. Historical precedent highlights the rarity of the feat in American women’s gymnastics. Prior to Simone Biles, no U.S. female gymnast had competed in three Olympic Games in 24 years, with Dominique Dawes in 2000 remaining one of the few Americans to achieve a triple-Olympian status. Chiles also continues to navigate an ongoing appeal regarding her Paris floor exercise bronze medal through international sports courts.