Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles could win the gold medal for best friendship.
The gymnasts, set to compete together for the United States at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, have been at each other’s side through thick and thin ever since they were paired to room together for the world championship team trials in 2018.
In fact, Jordan credits Simone with being a major reason she is still a gymnast. After failing to earn a spot on the Worlds team roster that year, the 23-year-old was ready to throw in the towel and give up on gymnastics altogether.
“’I guess this sport is coming to an end for me because things just aren’t working out for me at all whatsoever,’” Jordan recalled thinking in a conversation with The New York Times. “I just wanted to finish high school and go off to college. But then I had a talk with Simone.”
After that pep talk, Jordan vaulted into a new training plan, joining Simone at her family’s Texas-based World Championship Centre. Little did she know, she would go on to compete in multiple Olympic games.
And Simone isn’t the only one that has her best friend’s back. When Simone had to drop out of the gymnastics team final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to a case of “the twisties,” Jordan not only stepped in for her on the balance beam and uneven bars, but she also defended her friend’s choices amongst harsh judgements from the media.
"There was a lot," Jordan shared on Peace of Mind with Taraji in 2021. "There was emotions, there was excitement, there was frustration, there was devastation."
And though Simone took a break from competing after the Tokyo games, Jordan remained her biggest supporter, sharing the sweetest reaction to Simone’s engagement news.
"I call her here and there and I love her to death," she shared with E! News in March 2022, just over a year before Simone tied the knot with husband Jonathan Owens. "She will always be with me no matter what and I'm just really excited for her."
Luckily, this unstoppable duo is back together doing what they love after Simone returned to competitions in August 2023 for the U.S. Classic after a two-year break.
“This feels like we're doing this all over again because we are,” Jordan told People after finishing second at the 2024 Olympic Trials, just behind her bestie. “I’m very proud of her. She is somebody that I'm always going to look up to no matter what it is in life—whether it's gymnastics or just life in general.”
Ahead of this summer’s Paris Games, keep reading to revisit Simone and Jordans’ friendship throughout the years.
November 2018: From Roommates to Besties
Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles launched their friendship as roommates in 2018 when they were both competing in the world championship team trials.
August 2019: Never Give Up
Jordan credits Simone with being a major reason she is still a gymnast.
After failing to earn a spot on the Worlds team roster, the Oregon native was on the brink of giving up.
“I guess this sport is coming to an end for me because things just aren’t working out for me at all whatsoever,” Chiles recalled thinking in a conversation with The New York Times. “I just wanted to finish high school and go off to college. But then I had a talk with Simone.”
Simone invited her to train at the World Championship Centre, which her family owns, and they both competed at the 2019 World Championships.
September 2019: The Perfect Pair
Jordan posted an adorable photo of herself and her right-hand woman with the caption, "We go together like coffee & donuts."
April 2021: "Miss Thang" Turns 20
Simone wished "miss thang" a happy birthday in an Instagram post, thanking her for "making life in the gym so fun."
May 2021: Girl Power
"Love you Mo," Jordan wrote in the caption of this pic of her and Simone posing together. "Can't say thank you enough!"
May 2021: Sharing the Stage
The duo shared the podium alongside Kayla DiCello after being announced the winners of the 2021 GK U.S. Classic gymnastics competition.
June 2021: Sending Hugs
Simone ended her floor routine with a hug from her biggest supporter—BFF Jordan—at the Senior Women's competition of the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Championships.
June 2021: When in Texas...
Rocking their matching hats, these cowgirls posed together at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships after being named to the U.S. National Gymnastics team.
June 2021: Off to Tokyo
Cheek to cheek at the Olympic trials, these ladies in red were ready to take on Tokyo!
July 2021: A Dazzling Display
Ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, their jewel-covered leotards stole the show during Women's Podium training.
July 2021: Stepping Up
After Simone pulled out of the gymnastic team finals at the Tokyo Olympics to prioritize her mental health, Jordan was asked to step in for her in the team all-around.
July 2021: We're All In This Together
Following the Ohio native's decision to drop out of the finals, Jordan posted a photo of the pair on Instagram along with a letter of support.
"To my best friend, just thinking about everything we have gone through together from us getting mad at each other for no reason to laughing at jokes, to bringing the love of this sport back to me with your help words can’t explain how proud I am of you," she wrote. "I LOVE YOU and am literally crying just thinking about everything. WE did this together."
August 2021: Team USA
The duo sat down with Hoda Kotb on Today alongside teammates Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and MyKayla Skinner after they each left Tokyo with at least one medal.
August 2023: Back and Better Than Ever
Simone returned to gymnastic competition in August 2023 for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics.
Luckily, she had her best friend by her side every step of the way.
August 2023: And the Crowd Goes Wild
After crushing her floor routine at the 2023 U.S. Championships, Simone exited the floor to a cheering crowd and a warm embrace from Jordan and her team.
May 2024: Work Hard, Play Hard
Jordan and Simone were all laughs as they prepared for the 2024 Core Hydration Classic, Simone's first gymnastics meet of 2024.
May 2024: Eyeing Paris...
As part of the run-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone and Jordan proudly claimed first and second place, respectively, for the uneven bars at the Xfinity Championships.
June 2024: Triple Threat
The best friends shared an emotional moment with fellow Tokyo 2020 alum Suni as they found out they would be representing the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.