Jordan Chiles got some help from some very famous friends to announce her return to elite gymnastics.
Chiles confirmed she is training for LA28 with a video narrated by Michael Jordan. (Chiles was named after the basketball superstar, and both are Nike athletes.) Singer Normani and model Winnie Harlow also appeared in the video, released Wednesday, Sept. 2.
"Why again? Because the dream is still there. Why continue? Because there's still more to give. Why now? Because not every chapter ends when people expect it to," Jordan says as Chiles is shown driving to the beach, where she meets Normani and Harlow.
"Just one more bet on herself. So when the world asks why she's back for a third time? The answer is simple," Jordan said.
"Why not?" Chiles said,
pulling down her lower lip to reveal a "LA 2028" grill.
Chiles' announcement is not a surprise, with UCLA announcing Tuesday, Sept. 1, that she was joining Janelle McDonald's staff at UCLA as a student coach. She also is the fourth member of the U.S. team that won goldin Paris to announce she is training for Los Angeles.
Hezly Rivera, the youngest member of the team, has won the last two U.S. titles. Jade Carey made her return this summer, winning the vault title and finishing fifth in the all-around. Suni Lee is expected to return to competition next year, having announced her comeback earlier this summer.
Chiles has gold and silver medals from the team competitions in Paris and Tokyo, respectively. She also finished third on floor exercise in Paris, but her bronze medal remains in limbo more than two years later following a protest by Romania.
The highest court in Switzerland ruled in late January that the Court of Arbitration for Sport must reconsider an appeal by Chiles, saying there is a "likelihood" video evidence will allow the American to keep her medal. CAS had originally said an inquiry over Chiles' score was filed too late, but video evidence clearly shows it was made well within the 60 seconds allowed.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jordan Chiles announces she is going for LA28 Olympics: 'Why not?'
