As Jordan Chiles’ latest perfect score lit up the board at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, she took off in a joyful sprint. Landing on a mat, she paused briefly to relish the achievement, then jumped up with a big smile on Valentine’s Day, forming a heart with her hands above her head.
Even illness can’t keep us from aiming for greatness again.
With her signature blend of grace and technical skill, Chiles earned her fourth consecutive perfect 10 on the floor exercise in front of a season-high 10,032 fans. The fourth-ranked Bruins triumphed over No. 9 Michigan State, tallying 197.725 to 196.975.
Chiles’ performance impressed everyone, with UCLA gymnastics coach Janelle McDonald calling it the best show in LA.
Excitement filled the air even before her routine started. Chiles kicked off with a series of flips, set to a Whitney Houston track, seamlessly transitioning into twisty maneuvers as the music switched to songs from Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, and Tina Turner.
The Olympic gold medalist and Dancing with the Stars finalist radiated energy. She stumbled on some landings earlier but wrapped it up with a memorable pose, kneeling while raising one finger in the air.
“That was 10!” shouted one of her teammates, watching closely. The judges agreed, handing her another perfect score. This marked her fifth straight week achieving a 10 and the 16th of her college journey. She also collected 39.625 points in the all-around competition, taking home her fifth consecutive tournament victory.
“I was really impressed with her intentionality,” McDonald remarked afterward. “She brought the energy at crucial moments. What she did on the floor was just incredible and a testament to her hard work and passion for this team.”
Chiles continues to build on her achievements, being part of the U.S. team that clinched gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics, following a silver at the 2020 Olympics. She’s still in the process of reclaiming a bronze medal that was denied for technical reasons in the floor exercise at the recent Olympics. In a recent essay, Chiles expressed gratitude for the appeals process, suggesting her coach might have submitted the score survey on time.
“For the first time, the system has recognized what I’ve been saying: athletes deserve fairness,” she wrote. “We need due process. We deserve to be heard.”
In the meantime, she’s soaking in every moment with the Bruins as they pursue their first national championship since 2018. Although this is her final collegiate season, the freshman class has emerged powerfully, achieving five scores of 9.900 or above against Michigan.
“There’s a reason we’re the best show in L.A.,” Chiles said. “Regardless of the outcome, every weekend we uplift each other and prove our mettle.”
