Jordan Chiles' newly released memoir, I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams, is a powerful testament to healing, growth, and self-discovery. This bestseller isn't just a memoir; it’s an inspiration for anyone who has ever faced injustices. Through her raw and honest narrative, Chiles recounts her experiences, from heartbreaking, life-altering trauma at extremely young ages to her rise as one of the most iconic athletes in the sport.

But don’t expect some sugar-coated story of triumph; this book is real, gritty, and filled with the truths of Chiles’ journey to success.
A particular highlight is her deconstruction of the notion that Black gymnasts’ "power" in their routines is solely about physical strength, a racist statement made by Valeri Liukin, the USA Gymnastics national team coordinator from 2016-2018.
Liukin’s attempt to diminish Black gymnasts' skills by focusing on their "power" is an insult to the years of hard work, intelligence, discipline and talent it takes to be successful in gymnastics.

Valeri Liukin and others such as Italian gymnast Carlotta Ferlito and her coach (I can't find his name), choose to repeat racist lies. Jordan Chiles', nor any other Black gymnasts, or Black person don't owe these types any explanation nor does any Black gymnast have anything to prove to those types, ever.

But I'm still going to state the truth because these racist lies have ruled for centuries, and there is never enough forceful, unstoppable pushback. The truth is that the "power" isn’t just about being "strong" and "explosive" or whatever other simplified words they choose to use.

The power that Black gymnasts have is about a complete mastery of the body—a combination of phenomenal coordination, mind-body control, spatial awareness, intelligence, and the countless hours spent perfecting skills.

Black gymnasts are exceptional because of their training, intelligence, memory, family support systems, endless sacrifices, ongoing emotional growth, and belief in themselves. Black gymnasts don’t excel because they have a magical "physical characteristic" assigned to them by skin color. They excel because "The Power of their Dreams" fuel their efforts and their hearts drive them to achieve greatness they deserve.

As Jordan Chiles states so clearly in her book, "Apparently it wasn’t that we were talented athletes who’d excelled in the sport, raising the bar and setting new standards for everyone else to keep up with."

It’s a painful truth that many racist figures and fans in the sport of gymnastics still cling to this delusion of racial superiority. As has been the case for centuries, hateful people try to explain away Black people's success with racial stereotypes like "power vs. grace" or convoluted theories about the physical characteristics of Black people.

This is pure nonsense, an insult to those who work day in and day out to perfect their craft.

And let's not forget, race is not scientific. There is no "Black physique" that magically makes someone better at one sport over another. There is no formula that ties skin color to success in gymnastics, swimming, basketball, or any other sport.

The fact that they still get to speak their racist filth without repercussions is a glaring example of how racism is completely interwoven into the fabric of our so-called "civilized" societies. The problem isn't just the people who are openly racist. It’s also the so-called "good white people" who stay silent. Their silence allows these ignorant comments to persist.
As Martin Luther King stated, the white liberal is dangerous to the safety of the Negro because white liberals (the nice white people who root for Black people) are still more dedicated to maintaining order based on racial hierarchy systems

So every white person or other non-Black person with privilege in the gymnastics world who stood by silently and did not absolutely vehemently defend Jordan Chiles against racist parents, racist coaches, racist scoring, unfair treatment and did not vehemently outcast the people being racist and vehemently work towards practical solutions to make sure every Black child that even thinks about stepping foot in gymnastics, that every Black child should be protected using every resource available.
How hard is it to simply kick racists out of facilities and if you're a coach who "supports and likes" Black gymnasts, speak the hell up to the powers that be. Do something, Make a change. White people sitting back silently is not the answer and they should still feel guilty for not doing enough to protect all children.

It’s crucial to explicitly state that "grace" didn’t originate with the Valeri Liukin types and their delusions of superiority. "Grace" is complex, variable and existed long before whiteness and its weaponization. At the root, racism has nothing to do with the sport, body types, scoring systems, grace or power. Racism is rooted in hatred, insecurity, and fear of being outperformed.

Racism in gymnastics is also amplified by systemic issues like over testing Black athletes for performance-enhancing drugs. The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has been rightfully criticized for disproportionately testing Black athletes, creating a toxic atmosphere where Black people's success is always questioned. Nothing is done about it, and the pattern continues, leaving Black athletes to navigate a system stacked against them.

Nadia Comaneci-completely unprofessional, shameful behavior regarding the ludicrously unfathomable Paris 2024 Olympic travesty against Jordan.
Infuriating!

Amidst these injustices, I had to keep reminding myself that this is the same gorgeous young lady who is always smiling, dancing, cheering others on, celebrating and performing like a star.

I'm so grateful that that level of passion, energy and pure joy is the image of Jordan that I'm most familiar with, and because yes it was painful for me to read about the horrors she has faced. At one point I was like, "When is she going to catch a break?"
I said, I know it has to be somewhere because how could she go from experiencing the trauma she has to having the joyful persona she has everywhere she goes and in everything she does.

She is a light! And I'm hoping that the rest of her amazing journey will be filled with halos, healing, recognition, justice and all those things she deserves!
A bed of roses with butterflies