The 2025 gymnastics season unfolded with two contrasting storylines that captured national attention. Jordan Chiles, balancing collegiate commitment and post-Olympic stature, delivered one of the strongest campaigns of her UCLA career. Olivia Dunne, at LSU, navigated injury and transition while simultaneously broadening her influence far beyond competition. Both left the season with a measure of accomplishment, but their impact is becoming clearer outside the arena, where their efforts may carry longer resonance than medals or scores.
For Chiles, results defined her spring. She captured the NCAA Uneven Bars title, anchored a UCLA squad that claimed silver at the NCAA Championships, and added a co-championship on floor at the Big Ten Championships with a perfect 10. She also placed fifth in the all-around at nationals, confirming her as one of the most consistent athletes in the field. Dunne’s experience was shaped differently. A knee injury, an avulsion fracture of her patella, sidelined her for much of the season and kept her from competing in her final home meet. Yet she remained in the spotlight, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and later being recognized on the TIME100 Creators list. By April, she formally retired from gymnastics, choosing to begin a new chapter.
Following the announcement of SHERO Athlete Collective, Jordan Chiles elaborated on her motivation for creating the program. She emphasized the importance of mentorship and guidance for young athletes navigating the pressures of competitive sports. “As the founder of SHERO Athlete Collective, I hold a special place in my heart for mentoring the younger generation,” Chiles said.
She framed the initiative as more than athletic training, describing it as a comprehensive roadmap designed to help aspiring athletes succeed in every aspect of their lives. “I understand the importance of having a road map, a guide that illuminates the path to success that transcends sports. Through the collective, I came to equip young athletes with the tools they need to achieve their dreams no matter the field of play. It’s about passion on the legacy of a champion, a SHERO, who believes in the power of dreams and the potential within every aspiring athlete,” she added.
What unites these two careers, despite their very different arcs in 2025, is the direction both gymnasts have chosen beyond competition. Chiles has launched the SHERO Athlete Collective, a mentorship platform designed to guide young female athletes across sports. Livvy Dunne has established The Livvy Fund, an initiative aimed at expanding NIL opportunities for women at LSU. Both projects, while distinct in focus, share a common purpose: to change the environment for the next generation of athletes.
Chiles describes SHERO as a roadmap for aspiring gymnasts and young women who require support beyond technical training. She has already begun mentoring Simone Rose and Zoey Molomo as the first two SHERO athletes. Her vision is clear. “It’s about passion,” she explained, emphasizing that the program is intended to equip athletes with the tools necessary to succeed in sport and life.
Apr 20, 2024; Fort Worth, TX, USA; LSU Tigers gymnast Olivia Dunne warms up on floor before the start of the 2024 Womens National Gymnastics Championship at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dunne’s program, meanwhile, addresses a different challenge. With the majority of NIL earnings across the country flowing toward men’s sports, she has partnered with LSU’s Bayou Traditions to create The Livvy Fund. The initiative has already drawn support from corporate partners such as On3 and Accelerator Active Energy, providing financial backing and business guidance. Livvy, whose own NIL deals have included ESPN, Motorola, and Forever 21, has been paid more than $500,000 for a single post, and she now seeks to make those pathways accessible to her peers. In a university that has seen women’s teams thrive in basketball, softball, and soccer, her project could reshape the financial landscape for female athletes. Meanwhile, recently, Jordan Chiles inspired young gymnasts with a powerful message about courage and self-belief.
Jordan Chiles Urges Young Gymnasts to Embrace Courage and Self-Belief at YMCA Nationals
Jordan Chiles stood before the athletes at the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships in Green Bay and spoke with a clarity that seemed to reach every corner of the Resch Center. The two-time Olympian did not focus on medals or rankings, but on the quiet triumph of persistence. “If you are out there giving your all today, you are already winning,” she told them, her words landing with the weight of experience.
Credit: Instagram/ Jordan Chiles
Her message unfolded not as a lecture, but as a steady call for self-belief. Chiles reminded the gymnasts that the greatest challenge often lies within: the moments of doubt, the tension before a routine, the unease of the unknown.
She urged them to see victory in their willingness to rise to the stage at all. “Believing in yourself. Pushing through the nerves and the doubts and still stepping out onto the floor with your head held high. That is powerful. That is courage,” she said, offering a definition of success that resonated beyond the sport.
For the young competitors, many experiencing a national stage for the first time, Chiles’ words carried the authority of someone who had navigated that same pressure. Her presence bridged the gap between the arena floor and the highest level of international competition, showing that the path to excellence is built not only on skill, but also on resilience. While listening to her, the athletes were reminded that their performances that week were measured not solely in scores, but in the determination with which they faced each turn, leap, and landing.
The post Jordan Chiles & Olivia Dunne Make Historic Promise Never Seen From Any US Gymnastics Team Member appeared first on EssentiallySports.
