UCLA’s Jordan Chiles logs fourth straight perfect 10 on the floor

When her latest perfect 10 flashed on LA’s Pauley Pavilion scoreboard, Jordan Chiles took off on a celebratory dash.

The UCLA gymnast dropped to the floor mat for a momentary breather, sprawling her body to savor the moment, before rising with a smile to form her hands into a heart over her head on Valentine’s Day.

Not even an illness could stop another bid for perfection.

Flashing her signature combination of artistry and superb athleticism, Chiles notched her fourth consecutive perfect 10 on the floor exercise, helping the fourth-ranked Bruins edge ninth-ranked Michigan, 197.725–196.975, on Saturday before a season-high crowd of 10,032.

Chiles’ floor routines have become a sensation in what UCLA gymnastics coach Janelle McDonald has called the best show in LA.

Some fans were on their feet in anticipation, even before Chiles’ latest routine began. Accompanied by a Whitney Houston song, Chiles’ performance started with a series of acrobatic flips. She continued with several twisting moves as the music shifted among hits from Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson and Tina Turner.

The Olympic gold medalist and “Dancing with the Stars” finalist appeared to be having great fun, based on her energetic vibe. She stuck every landing during another series of flips and concluded her performance with one final move that left her on her knees, hoisting one finger in the air.

“That was a 10!” exclaimed one of Chiles’ teammates watching from the edge of the mat.

The judges agreed, giving Chiles another perfect score. It was the fifth consecutive week that the senior has scored a 10 and the 16th in her college career. She also won the all-around for the fifth straight meet, scoring 39.625. 

“I was just so impressed with how she came out and was so intentional with everything,” McDonald said afterward. “She really brought the energy up for her team in those little moments that we needed to flip the energy. For her to just go out on floor and do it again was just incredible. I think it’s a testament to the work she puts in and the heart she has for this team.”

Chiles continues to build upon a legacy that includes being part of the gold-medal-winning US team at the 2024 Summer Olympics and the silver-medal-winning team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

She is still trying to reclaim the bronze medal she won and was subsequently denied in the floor exercise because of a technicality during the 2024 Summer Olympics. In a recent Time magazine essay, Chiles wrote she was grateful for an appeals process that could give her back the medal after new evidence suggested her coach may have submitted a score inquiry within the allotted time.

“For the first time, the system acknowledged what I have been saying all along. That athletes deserve fairness,” Chiles wrote. “We deserve due process. We deserve to be heard.”

In the meantime, Chiles is enjoying every moment with the Bruins as they bid for their first national championship since 2018. While Chiles is in her final college season, the team’s freshman class has emerged as another strength, totaling five scores of 9.900 or higher during the meet against Michigan.

“We are the best show in LA for a reason,” Chiles told the Daily Bruin. “No matter what, how we prove ourselves each and every weekend, we feed off each other.”

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