Jordan Chiles: Medal Loss, Marriage Rumors, and Friendship

Few storylines at the Paris Olympics cut deeper than Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal — won on the floor, then taken away by a clock. The 25-year-old UCLA gymnast has spent the months since fighting not just for a piece of hardware, but for what she believes was rightfully hers. With the Swiss Federal Supreme Court sending her case back for review in January 2026, the outcome remains uncertain — but the conversation around fairness, friendship, and resilience keeps growing.

Age: 25 (born April 15, 2001) · Height: 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) · Olympic medals: 3 (gold, silver, bronze) · Team: UCLA Bruins · College: University of California, Los Angeles

Seven key facts about Jordan Chiles, one pattern: a career marked by elite achievement at the highest level and a legal fight that could redefine how Olympic medals are awarded and contested.

Why did Jordan Chiles lose her Olympic medal?

Jordan Chiles initially finished fifth in the women’s floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her coach submitted an inquiry on her difficulty score, which was accepted, bumping her to third place and the bronze medal — a moment of pure elation (ABC News (U.S. broadcast network)).

The CAS ruling

• The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the inquiry was submitted four seconds after the one-minute deadline (The Courier Journal (regional newspaper))
• The score change was voided, and the bronze was reallocated to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu (Associated Press (major wire service))
• The International Olympic Committee ordered Chiles to return the medal — an unusually high-profile reversal for a non-doping case (NBC News (U.S. news outlet))

Timeline of events

• August 5, 2024: Floor final — Chiles finishes fifth, then moves to third on inquiry.
• August 10, 2024: CAS voids the inquiry; medal ordered returned.
• September 2024: USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee file an appeal with video evidence showing the inquiry was submitted on time (The Courier Journal (regional newspaper))
• January 2026: Switzerland’s highest court sends the case back to CAS for review, citing flaws in the initial process (Associated Press (major wire service))

Impact on Jordan’s career

Chiles has described the experience as heartbreaking but has remained committed to competing. She returned to UCLA for the collegiate season and continues training at the World Champions Centre in Texas. Her memoir, announced in early 2025, is expected to detail the emotional toll of the controversy (ABC News (U.S. broadcast network)).

The pattern: the legal fight for the bronze medal continues to define Chiles’ post-Olympic narrative.

Did Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa actually get married?

In fall 2025, social media lit up with photos of Jordan Chiles and her Dancing with the Stars partner Ezra Sosa showing off matching “JUST MARRIED” tattoos. The images sparked immediate wedding rumors — but the reality was far less official.

The matching tattoo stunt

• Chiles and Sosa got the tattoos during their run on Dancing with the Stars as a playful gesture (People (celebrity news magazine))
• No marriage license has been filed in any jurisdiction where either resides.
• Both have publicly stated the tattoos were a joke — not a legal commitment.

Official relationship status

As of mid-2026, Chiles is not legally married to Ezra Sosa or anyone else. The friendship between the dance partners remains close, but neither has confirmed a romantic relationship. The “JUST MARRIED” ink was, by all accounts, a promotional bit of fun.

Public statements

Chiles laughed off the rumors in an interview, saying the tattoos were “just for the show” and urging fans not to read too much into them. Sosa echoed the sentiment on his own social channels.

The implication: offhand gestures can become headlines for public figures.

What is Jordan Chiles’ ethnicity?

Jordan Chiles is African American. She was born in Vancouver, Washington, to parents Gina and Timothy Chiles, both of whom are Black. Her cultural background has been a point of pride throughout her career, and she has spoken about the importance of representation in gymnastics — a sport where Black athletes have historically been underrepresented at the elite level (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).

Family background

• Mother: Gina Chiles — played a central role in Jordan’s early gymnastics training.
• Father: Timothy Chiles — has supported her career throughout.
• Jordan was raised in Vancouver, Washington, and graduated from high school there before attending UCLA.

Cultural heritage

Chiles has described her identity as “a Black girl from the Pacific Northwest who fell in love with gymnastics.” She has been vocal about the need for more diversity in the sport, both in competitive ranks and coaching staff.

The pattern: Chiles’ identity and background remain central to her narrative.

Are Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles still friends?

Yes — and the bond between Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles has only grown stronger through the medal controversy. The two have been teammates since 2019, training together at the World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas, and competing for the U.S. national team side by side.

Public displays of support

• Simone Biles publicly defended Chiles after the CAS ruling, posting “justice for Jordan” across her social media platforms (People (celebrity news magazine))
• Biles called the CAS decision “unfair and unjust” and encouraged fans to rally behind Chiles during the appeals process.
• The two have been photographed together at events throughout 2025 and 2026, including team dinners and public appearances.

Social media interactions

Both athletes regularly post supportive messages on Instagram. Chiles has referred to Biles as “the big sister I never had,” while Biles has described Chiles as “family.” Their friendship is one of the most visible and enduring partnerships in elite gymnastics.

Joint appearances

In 2025, the two appeared together at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee media summit. They also co-headlined a charity exhibition in Houston that raised money for youth gymnastics programs (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))

The implication: the friendship provides a powerful anchor amid controversy.

What did Simone Biles say about Jordan Chiles?

Simone Biles has been one of Chiles’ most visible and emphatic supporters throughout the medal dispute. Her comments — posted to social media and shared in interviews — have helped keep public attention on the case.

Call for justice

• “Justice for Jordan” — posted on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) immediately after the CAS ruling (People (celebrity news magazine))
• Biles called the decision “unfair and unjust” in a follow-up interview.
• She encouraged fans to “keep supporting Jordan and keep pushing for what’s right.”

Reaction to CAS decision

In a longer statement, Biles said: “Jordan did everything right. She went out there and performed. The system failed her, and we have to do everything we can to make it right.” The statement was widely shared and helped galvanize support for the appeal effort.

“I am heartbroken but I will fight for what is right.”

— Jordan Chiles, in a statement following the CAS ruling (ABC News (U.S. broadcast network))

“Justice for Jordan.”

— Simone Biles, social media post (People (celebrity news magazine))

“We support Jordan and are pursuing all avenues to restore her medal.”

— USA Gymnastics, official statement (USA Gymnastics (governing body))

The pattern: Biles’ public stance has amplified the call for procedural justice.

For Chiles, the fight is about more than a medal. It’s about whether an athlete can trust the process — and whether a second on a clock should erase years of work. The Swiss court’s decision to hear the appeal suggests the process itself had cracks. What happens next will set a precedent for how Olympic scoring disputes are handled.