Jordan Chiles Concludes UCLA Gymnastics Career with Flawless Performance and DWTS-Inspired Confidence
Jordan Chiles is concluding her collegiate gymnastics journey with the same bold, confident, and energetic approach that has defined her entire career. In her final season with the UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics team, Chiles continues to elevate her performance to new heights, setting a remarkable standard for her peers.
Historic Big Ten Meet Showcases Chiles' Dominance
On January 25, UCLA traveled to East Lansing for a high-profile Big Ten conference meet against the Michigan State Spartans women's gymnastics team. Competing inside the Breslin Center before nearly 9,000 enthusiastic fans and a national television audience on Fox, the Bruins delivered an impressive team score of 197.425, narrowly defeating Michigan State's 196.900.
The standout performer of the evening was undoubtedly Jordan Chiles, who achieved a perfect 10 on the floor exercise and recorded the highest all-around score in the nation this season with an exceptional 39.875. Her detailed scores included:
- Vault: 9.975
- Uneven Bars: 9.950
- Balance Beam: 9.950
- Floor Exercise: 10.00
This marked her second perfect 10 of the 2026 season, following her vault 10 on January 18 against Nebraska, demonstrating her consistent excellence across multiple events.
Dancing With the Stars Experience Transforms Competitive Mindset
Following the meet, Chiles openly discussed how her participation in Dancing With the Stars significantly contributed to her growth as an athlete. She explained that the show helped her perform with greater confidence, freedom, and authenticity during competitions.
"I mean, Dancing With the Stars definitely helped even more. I can definitely say it was different compared to my last year," Chiles revealed after the meet. "A lot of people really enjoyed my routine this year, and finally getting a 10 on it? I'm just happy."
Chiles emphasized that the experience made her feel more comfortable being herself in front of large crowds. "I think being able to feel like I've been an entertainer my whole life, it's a little easier to come out onto the floor and really just be myself," she noted. "That's the biggest thing I really take away from everything I do is just being authentic to who I am."
She added, "I'm happy I do have Dancing With the Stars underneath my belt, though, because it did give me a little more sparkle here and there." This newfound sparkle was evident in her flawless execution and charismatic performance throughout the meet.
Team Contributions and Memorable Environment
While Chiles stole the spotlight, she was not the only Bruin to shine during the competition. Several teammates made significant contributions to the team's success:
- Junior Katelyn Rosen started the floor rotation with a solid 9.850.
- Senior Ciena Alipio and freshman Tiana Sumanasekera both scored 9.850 on floor.
- Sophomore Sydney Barros, stepping in after a lineup change, posted an impressive 9.900 in her career floor debut.
Collectively, these performances helped UCLA achieve a 49.450 on floor exercise, representing the team's best event score of the season and playing a crucial role in securing the victory. Reflecting on the atmosphere, Jordan Chiles described the East Lansing meet as "the biggest Big Ten environment she has experienced," highlighting the significance of the moment in her final collegiate season.
As Chiles continues to raise the bar in her concluding year with UCLA, her combination of athletic excellence and personal growth serves as an inspiring example for aspiring gymnasts everywhere.
