Amid Simone Biles & Others’ LA 2028 Uncertainty, Jordan Chiles Reveals Preparing Young Hezly Rivera For Gymnastics Leadership

Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, and Simone Biles are currently the biggest names in the US gymnastics fraternity. After winning a plethora of accolades, all three gymnasts have now earned Olympic gold medals. Although Chiles could have also claimed an Olympic bronze, it was stripped away following a significant controversy. Having experienced both the highs and lows of the sport, the trio is now uncertain about continuing at the professional level in the future. Back at UCLA, Chiles plans to fully enjoy her college days for the next few years. As for Biles and Lee, their Olympic futures remain uncertain. By 2028, the trio will be at a pivotal age in their careers, but Chiles and her peers are ensuring that the next generation of gymnasts is well-prepared. They have taken the youngest member of the Paris team, Hezly Rivera, under their wing, helping her find her voice. In a recent podcast, Jordan Chiles shared how she helped Rivera overcome her nerves and gain confidence.

Jordan Chiles details mentoring Hezly Rivera 

At just 16 years old, Hezly Rivera is already an Olympic gold medalist. With an impressive all-around score of 111.150 at the US Olympic trials, she secured her spot in Paris, turning her dreams into reality. After winning two silver medals at the 2023 Junior World Championships, Rivera is aiming to become the next big name in U.S. women’s gymnastics. However, during her first Olympic appearance in Paris, she found herself among some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles.

While it is very easy for a youngster to go into a shell in fear of being judged, Jordan Chiles ensured that Rivera was given some valuable lessons. Speaking on the Chicks in the Office channel on YouTube, Chiles said, “All the four of us are older and obviously like Hezly is the youngest one on the team and being able to kind of give her that perspective of yes you can be the oldest one on the team but there might be times where that older girl may need somebody to talk to right. So we wanted to give her the understanding of when she’s in our position that she can help her teammates when that time comes.” Chiles expressed her hope that Hezly Rivera will continue to participate in many more Olympics and eventually emerge as a leader, passing down valuable lessons to the younger gymnasts. The 23-year-old emphasized that this is a cycle every gymnast goes through; when she competed in her first Olympics, it was veterans like Simone Biles who guided her. While this uplifting news showcases the bright side of the spectrum, it’s also a reminder that this might be the last time we see Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and Suni Lee perform on the grandest stage.

LA 28 might not feature the deadly trio of US women’s gymnastics 

Jordan Chiles will be 27 in 2028, and thus, she is doubtful about whether to continue her Olympic journey any further. Speaking about her future, Chiles made it very clear that she will be a part of some kind of sport in 2028, but cannot guarantee an Olympic run. In an Associated Press interview, Chiles stated, “For ’28, you never know”¦ I’m not going to say what sport. You could still see me competing though, I’ll give you that.” Similarly for Suni Lee, she wants to enjoy life in New York. Having won the all-around gold in Tokyo, Lee suffered some serious kidney complications that almost threatened to end her career. However, with great zeal and determination, Lee fought back and competed in Paris recently. But now, she is not sure about her possibility in Los Angeles. Speaking with Elle, Lee mentioned, “I don’t know how much gymnastics I’ll be doing during that time, but maybe L.A. in 2028. We’ll see.” Lastly, Simone Biles. Currently occupied with her Gold Over America Tour, Biles is now 27. She was the oldest gymnastics captain in U.S. history to lead the women’s team, earning an impressive three gold medals. However, the GOAT has not given a definitive answer about her participation in LA 28. Although her “Never say never” comment has ignited some hopes, it is unlikely that Biles will compete at 31. Thus, with the trio gone, the baton is for the likes of Hezly Rivera to carry forward in the future.