Jordan Chiles Makes History with Perfect 10 Vault Performance
Jordan Chiles entered Pauley Pavilion with quiet determination on Saturday night. She left the arena as part of gymnastics history. The Olympic star achieved what very few gymnasts ever accomplish during the UCLA Bruins' home opener against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Chiles earned her first career perfect 10 on the vault.
A Rare Achievement in Gymnastics
This perfect score represents an extraordinary milestone. Even Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, has never received a perfect 10 on vault. The achievement becomes even more remarkable considering the rarity of such scores in modern gymnastics.
Chiles helped lead the UCLA Bruins to a decisive victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The final score stood at 197.325 to 195.25 in favor of UCLA. Beyond her perfect vault, Chiles delivered an outstanding all-around performance. She finished the meet with a total score of 39.675, the highest of the competition.
The Perfect Vault Execution
The 24-year-old gymnast entered the competition with strong momentum. She had recently earned back-to-back Big Ten Gymnast of the Week awards. Her confidence showed throughout the meet, culminating in that historic vault attempt.
Chiles sprinted down the runway with focused intensity. She performed a double-twisting Yurchenko, one of the most challenging vaults in college gymnastics. This complex maneuver demands exceptional speed, explosive power, and flawless timing. Chiles executed every element perfectly.
Her landing was clean and controlled. The judges immediately raised their scores. When the number 10.0 flashed on the screen, the crowd erupted in celebration. The arena filled with cheers for the Olympic athlete's remarkable achievement.
"I'm just proud that we were able to turn around from last week and really show what we really do in practice," Chiles told the Los Angeles Times after her performance.Understanding the Perfect 10
The Yurchenko vault carries the name of its creator, Natalia Yurchenko. This difficult move begins with a round-off onto the springboard. The gymnast then performs a back handspring onto the vault table. The routine concludes with a flip featuring two full twists. Sticking the landing presents the greatest challenge for most athletes.
Perfect 10 scores remain exceptionally rare on vault. At the college level, judges look for impeccable form and a completely stuck landing. The scoring system differs significantly at the Olympic level. Since 2006, elite international gymnastics has used an open-ended scoring system. This change eliminated perfect 10s from international competition. That explains why neither Chiles nor Biles has achieved this score at the Olympic Games.
Building Toward a Championship Season
Chiles currently competes in her final season with UCLA. She previously led the Bruins to their first Big Ten title in 2025. The team also achieved a National Runner-Up finish behind the Oklahoma Sooners that same year. Her current goal remains clear and ambitious. She wants to win the National Championship before concluding her college career.
This triumphant moment arrives after a particularly challenging year for the gymnast. During the Paris Olympics, Chiles initially earned a bronze medal in floor exercise. A scoring dispute later resulted in the medal being awarded to Ana Barbosu instead. The International Olympic Committee made this ruling after reviewing the scores. Chiles had briefly moved into third place behind Rebeca Andrade and Simone Biles following a successful U.S. appeal.
The online reaction to this situation proved deeply painful for Chiles. She discussed this experience on the "Baby, This Is Keke Palmer" podcast.
"I started almost literally getting racist comments... people were telling me to kill myself, and it got to a really, really tough point," she revealed during the interview.Looking Toward Future Goals
Despite these difficulties, Chiles hasn't ruled out another Olympic appearance. She expressed continued interest in competitive gymnastics during UCLA media availability.
"The 2028 Olympics is always going to be in my mind," she stated clearly.For now, her attention remains firmly on completing her final college season with excellence. With a perfect 10 now officially part of her athletic resume, Jordan Chiles has already made this season truly memorable. Her historic performance at Pauley Pavilion will be remembered as a defining moment in college gymnastics.
