US gymnast Jordan Chiles reflects on Tokyo Games

U.S. Olympic women's gymnast Jordan Chiles saw more than a silver medal in her hands after returning from the challenging Tokyo 2020 games. "It's my shield," said Chiles during an interview in Los Angeles. "It's a shield." Weeks of wearing masks and isolation from friends and family posed unique challenges for Chiles and her US teammates during the Games. But Chiles came away energized by the opportunity.

"The experience was an amazing thing," said Chiles. "I definitely would say I would do it again, I would do it again." After American star Simone Biles withdrew from the women's gymnastics team final competition following one rotation, Chiles stepped in to take Biles' place on uneven bars and balance beam. The 20-year-old who made the team with her steady consistency pulled off a solid bars routine and drilled her balance beam set two days after falling twice on the event.

"Journeys are curveballs sometimes," said Chiles of the unexpected substitution. "A lot of stuff gets thrown at you." Biles posted on social media at the time that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders after an uncharacteristically sloppy showing during qualifying. "As athletes, mental health is something that we truly have to focus on because we go through so much," said Chiles of the struggles her close friend Biles was going through.

But Chiles thanked Biles for her important message. "You spoke up about something that a lot of little girls may not have the ability to do," she said. Biles helped convince Chiles to move to Houston to train alongside her two years ago, a decision that turned Chiles into an Olympian and silver medal winner. "She's my ride or die," said Chiles of Biles. "Like she will always be with me."