Jordan Chiles’ tattoos and their meanings: Back tattoos, a Michael Jordan tribute and Olympic ink
Jordan Chiles may be the hype woman for the Team USA women’s gymnastics squad, but the 23-year-old has an inked-out support crew of her own.
The gold medalist’s arms and back are decorated with tattoos — including the Olympic rings, a rose and an inspirational quote from her grandfather — that signify her strength and success.
While viewers across the world are tuning in to watch gymnasts flip, fly and stick the landing at the 2024 Paris Games, spectators are also paying attention to appearances. For instance, Simone Biles’s hair caused uproar on social media with users commenting on its “sloppy” look. Biles clapped back, noting that the bus that takes the team to the arena is “like 9,000 degrees” and lacks air conditioning.
Chiles’s look also caught the public’s attention. While long-sleeve competition leotards often hide her ink, her back tattoo peaked through her Olympic uniform, sparking interest in her other body art.
Below, see some of the gymnast’s tattoos and learn more about their meanings.
Chiles’s first tattoo is a large rose that decorates her forearm. The gymnast first debuted her ink in a 2021 Instagram post in which she poses hand-in-hand with Biles.
While it is unknown exactly what her floral design signifies, black rose tattoos have been known to represent mourning, strength and courage.
Olympic rings
The two-time Olympian flaunts the iconic Olympic rings on her right arm, a tattoo she shares with her teammates Biles and Suni Lee.
Biles was the first to have the logo tatted on her right forearm in 2017, following her success at the Rio games.
Though Chiles is not representing Team USA in the 2024 individual finals, she undoubtedly marked her place in Olympic history. In 2021, she stepped in after Biles withdrew from the competition and the women’s team won silver.
A tribute to her grandfather
On her left arm, in elegant cursive script, reads the quote, “Where you are, I have been. Where I am, you will be.” The quote is a tribute to her grandfather who passed away in 2023. She also lost her aunt in the same year.
“I don’t really know where I am in my healing process,” she shared in a recent interview with Teen Vogue. “Some days I feel great, and then on days like making my second Olympics, I was so happy and then I was sad that they weren’t there to witness it.
Chiles’s parents knew from the start their daughter would accomplish big things. Her first name hails from Michael Jordan, renown American basketball player who famously played number 23 for the Chicago Bulls.
Chiles has the number 23 tatted on her left bicep, an homage to her namesake.
The former NBA star reached out to Chiles ahead of this year’s Olympics with a sweet message of support that the gymnast reposted to her Instagram story.
In his message, the former player said, “Hey Jordan, this is Michael Jordan. I am so excited to watch you win a gold medal. Here’s to wishing you nothing but good luck. Let’s catch up afterwards. Hope to see you soon. MJ. Btw love the name.”
Koi fish, Bible verse, “you have struggled … and have overcome”
The Team USA scoop-neck leotards, embellished with red, white and blue stars and stripes, showed off one of Chiles’s back tattoos. The delicate design features yin-yang koi fish, which according to Chinese Feng Shui represents balance and harmony.
In addition to the koi fish at the center of her back, Chiles has two quotes printed on the back of her left shoulder. One reads, “You have struggled… and have overcome.” The other, a Bible verse from Corinthians, says, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Golden
In a 2021 Tik Tok Post, Chiles documented her and a group of friends getting matching “Golden” tattoos. While Biles is not captured in the video, the gold-medalist attended the 2021 InStyle Awards with a fresh tattoo that reads “Golden” in cursive on her left wrist.
While Chiles has not commented on this piece of ink, it is perhaps a reference to the highest Olympic medal.
Biles also recently publicized the official nickname for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Golden Girls. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she joked that in addition to referencing their gold-medal status, the moniker stems from this year’s team being the oldest in Olympics history. Biles is 27, Jade Carey is 24 and Chiles is 23.
Snake, angel number and more
Accompanying Chiles’s more prominent ink is a collection of patch-work tattoos that dot her left bicep.
The number 444 stands out in the center of her upper arm, an angel number that is said to symbolize love, support and guidance. This emblem is sandwiched between two other pieces, a snake on the right and a flower on the left.
On the outside of her bicep, the gymnast has two abstract line-drawings of faces, a bow, three butterflies, flames and the phrase “little sunshine.”
Her shoulder features a collection of little stars that mesh perfectly with her sparkling competition leotards.
