Jordan Chiles Shares Her Secret DWTS Partner and Navigates Olympic Medal Controversy
Though Jordan Chiles initially concealed her Dancing With the Stars participation, she ultimately disclosed it to a single Olympic peer.
“My initial thought was, if this information was given to me, it's confidential. I absolutely cannot inform anyone,” Chiles, aged 24, revealed solely to Us Weekly on Wednesday, September 3, following the full announcement of the season 34 lineup. “I confided in Laurie [Hernandez] several weeks prior, simply because I had recently encountered her face-to-face. I remember thinking, ‘She’s going to be so thrilled by this, given her incredible spirit and my deep affection for her.’”
Beyond her status as a past Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women’s gymnastics squad, Hernandez, 25, possesses prior experience as a DWTS contestant. She graced season 23 alongside professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy in 2016, ultimately securing the coveted mirrorball trophy. At just 16 years old, Hernandez became the youngest champion in the program's history.
For season 34, Chiles will perform with professional dancer Ezra Sosa. Her entry into this contest occurs over a year after the Paris Olympics, where she earned a gold medal in the women’s team all-around event. Chiles additionally received a bronze medal in the women’s individual floor exercise, only for it to be controversially rescinded following a scoring dispute.
Jordan Chiles Addresses Controversy After Loss of Olympic Bronze Medal
Initially, Ana Bărbosu of Romania was slated for third place in the exercise; however, Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, questioned the American gymnast’s score. As a result, the judges elevated Chiles’ score by one-tenth of a point, propelling her to third position and displacing Bărbosu, 19, to fourth.
The Romanian Gymnastics Federation subsequently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), contending that Landi, 45, had submitted her challenge four seconds beyond the designated one-minute timeframe.
Ultimately, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled in favor of Bărbosu, awarding the medal to the Romanian competitor. Despite this, Chiles and her legal counsel have persisted in disputing the ruling. Her representatives lodged two appeals with the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, with the latest occurring in September 2024.
Furthermore, USA Gymnastics lodged an appeal requesting the court compel CAS to re-examine the case, specifically reviewing audio and video evidence acquired by Netflix camera teams, who were in Paris documenting Simone Biles’ docuseries, Rising. This footage purportedly demonstrates that Landi's appeal was not submitted beyond the deadline.
In August, Chiles took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the contentious situation, marking the one-year anniversary of the women’s individual floor exercise.
“Exactly one year ago, I exited the Paris floor with a bronze medal – and invaluable lessons I will always carry,” she penned. “Truly, the most challenging experiences are often the most instructive. While this year brought its share of triumphs, the difficulties felt particularly profound.”
She added, “Each obstacle and every letdown compelled me to delve deeper and revealed my true strength. It also clarified who genuinely supports me. Even when something is unjustly removed from you – your inherent truth and value remain … Impregnable.”
Chiles additionally expressed gratitude to those who “steadfastly supported me over the past year, offering prayers, messages, and affection during my times of greatest need.”
Team USA Alleges 'Video Evidence' Supports Jordan Chiles Retaining Her Medal
“You served as a reminder that I am never isolated on this path. I genuinely appreciate all of you. You sustained me even when I felt unsure of my next move,” she finished. “I persist. I continue the struggle. I remain the same strong individual.”
In her conversation with Us, Chiles disclosed how her Olympic competition experience served as preparation for DWTS.
“I perceive that performing on the grandest global stage is largely akin to dancing before an audience,” she elaborated. “I believe it’s less about apprehension or anxiety and more about meeting an expectation, as it fundamentally involves presenting and performing. Thus, while I am constantly performing, I anticipate this particular experience will possess a unique quality.”
The 34th season of Dancing With the Stars is scheduled to debut on ABC and Disney+ on September 16 at 8 p.m. ET, with subsequent episodes available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
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