3 Important Lessons from Biles and Chiles

This past Sunday, the USA Gymnastics team named their official roster for the Tokyo Olympics later this summer.  Among the top four finishers earning a coveted spot were Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles.  Undoubtedly, you have heard Biles’ name before; most sports experts consider her to be the greatest gymnast in the world, and possibly the greatest of all time (or The GOAT, as the kids say).  When she steps onto the floor, the planet holds its collective breath and takes notice.

But if you haven’t heard of Jordan Chiles yet, her story is worth knowing (for the complete details, see this New York Times article).  The youngest of five children, she took up the sport when she was about six years old.  She quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with.  But, as is the story with most Olympic hopefuls, her path was anything but straight.

Crossroads

The common narrative in competitive gymnastics seems to feature overbearing, demanding coaches. They insist that their athletes lead sheltered, singularly-focused lives.  Chiles’ background certainly fits that description.  Through a series of events (including a devastating setback), she told her mother to throw out her medals, trophies, plaques, and banners – she was quitting.  The sport didn’t want her anymore, she reasoned, so she became willing to give it all up.

Some time later, Simone Biles invited Chiles to come to Texas to train at her gym.  Understandably, Chiles wanted to graduate high school first.  While delaying the move gave Jordan the opportunity to enjoy a sense of normalcy (attending prom, participating in Senior Skip Day, and just hanging out with friends), it did delay her training.  When she arrived in Texas two days after graduation, she knew she would need to put in extra time and effort to raise herself back up to the level of competitiveness she had once achieved.  

Validation

Despite another setback (wrist surgery), Jordan found herself basking in the glory of the sport she loved once again.  Earning the third spot on USA Gymnastics four-woman roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics team justified the turmoil, pain, and heartbreak she’s endured over the past few years.  After the meet, Biles told her, “You belong here.”

Lessons Learned

Dance and gymnastics share a host of similarities, so it’s natural to spot some parallels between their athletes’ experiences.  The story of Chiles and Biles offers a few lessons for our kids (and us, quite honestly) to grow on.

Lesson #1 – Raise Each Other Up

Like gymnasts, many dancers compete individually while maintaining their status as a team member.  They may be vying for the top spot, as are the other soloists on their squad, which puts them directly at odds with each other (for more, see Friendly Fire).  Because these kids go head to head, they may feel jealousy, anxiety, and other negative emotions that erode their confidence.  

But let’s take a look at what Simone Biles did for a fellow gymnast:  When she saw Chiles struggling in her environment and ready to give up her sport altogether, Biles offered her help.  Couldn’t she have easily withheld any offers of assistance?  Couldn’t she have turned her back on this girl, who had the potential to become an even more formidable opponent?  Yes, and few would fault her for it.  Instead, she threw a lifeline to someone that could possibly overtake her.  Blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make yours shine any brighter, so the saying goes.  What a wonderful idea to pass along to our children. 

Lesson #2 – Get Back on the Horse

Have you ever heard of a famous athlete that hasn’t overcome challenges on their road to greatness?  Yeah, me neither.  Many would argue that resilience is born of adversity; conquering obstacles creates strength.  Jordan Chiles could have simply turned her back on gymnastics when the going got tough. Instead, she did the opposite.  

Knowing full well that she was behind the eight ball due to her time away from the sport, she decided to go full throttle when she resumed her training.  If our kids take a break from their dance team (as one young woman from our team did), bringing themselves back up to competitive levels may seem like a daunting task.  But, as Chiles has proven, it can be done.

Lesson #3 – Lead a Balanced Life

So many of the top dancers in our world lead lives with a singular focus.  Often, dance is their only extracurricular activity, and it impacts every facet of their existence.  How many of us have had to turn down social invitations because of dance commitments?  That’s right – all of us (and if you haven’t yet, you will).  At times, we can feel thoroughly consumed by it.

When Chiles joined Biles’ training center in Texas, she found a place that was much different than the strict, regimented environment she was used to. Jordan was able to loosen up a bit as she enjoyed fun, lighthearted moments in her new home.  Advances in social emotional learning have helped us to understand that the brain learns best when it isn’t under stressful, anxiety-provoking pressure.  In other words, fun is not the enemy of learning and growth.

Because Chiles enjoyed many “normal” rites of passage during her senior year, she was in a better position to tackle the hard work of getting back on top.  Any adult reading this knows too well that you cannot get those years back, so Jordan may feel fewer regrets than if she had stayed with a demanding, unreasonable coach.

Looking Ahead

Along with Biles, Sunisa Lee, and Grace McCallum, Chiles and her teammates are favored to win the gold later this summer.  To be sure, these young women face a mountain of pressure, knowing the world is watching them.  While the stakes may not be quite as high for our dancing kids, they can take a page from Chiles’ book to develop the confidence, resilience, and balance that she has.

Best of luck to Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics!

Work hard, have fun! – Danielle

Considering a DUO or TRIO for your dancing child? Here are some things to consider first: Just Duo (or Trio) It!