At the 2024 Olympics, Chiles was a key reason the United States won the gold medal in the team competition. However, she was caught up in a scoring controversy in the individual floor exercise final that saw her initially awarded the bronze medal.
However, she was stripped of the medal after the International Olympic Committee ruled Chiles’ coach did not lodge the inquiry that elevated her score within the alotted time.
Chiles has filed several appeals, the most recent of which is pending in the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland.
In the months that followed, Chiles revealed how deeply that controversy affected her.
“The biggest thing that was taken from me was the recognition of who I was. Not just my sport, but the person I am,” Chiles told Forbes’ Power Women Summit in September.
“To me, everything that has gone on, it’s not about the medal. It’s about my skin color. It’s about the fact there were things that have led up to this position of being an athlete. And I felt like everything has been stripped. I felt like when I was back in 2018 where I did lose the love of the sport, I lost it again. … I feel like I was really left in the dark.”
Now Chiles has rekindled her love for gymnastics, and she has UCLA to thank for that.
“Words can’t describe how grateful I am to be a part of such an amazing team,” Chiles wrote on Instagram this week. “(UCLA Gymnastics) you made me re-love competing … It’s been six months and I finally found the joy again.”
Other notable performances
Trey Knight, Cal State Northridge track and field: The senior from Ridgefield High was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Athlete of the Week after a record-breaking indoor performance on Jan. 24. Knight became the national leader in the weight throw with a toss of 81 feet, 7.25 inches at the Nevada Invitational. It broke a school record and is the third-best toss in collegiate history. Knight finished as the national runner-up in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships last March.
Christopher Hamblin, Oregon State wrestling: The sophomore from Mountain View scored a pin 2:20 into his 157-pound match to help the Beavers beat Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday. Hamblin improved to 10-4 this season and is tied for second on the team in wins.
Kam Osborn, Oregon Tech men’s basketball: The grad student from Prairie scored 20 points in a win over The Evergreen State College on Friday and 19 points in a loss to Northwest University on Saturday. The Owls (16-5, 8-2) are second in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
Addison Harris, Montana State women’s basketball: The freshman from Camas had 11 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes in a near-homecoming as the Bobcats won at Portland State on Saturday to improve to 20-2.
Jaydia Martin, Sacramento State women’s basketball: The senior from Hudson’s Bay High scored 16 points against Montana on Saturday and continues to lead the Hornets with 14.0 points per game. Teammate Katie Peneueta (Heritage High) added 13 points.
Share tips: Know of a standout performance by a collegiate athlete from Clark County? E-mail sports editor Micah Rice at micah.rice@columbian.com
