The next step for Simone Biles and the U.S. gymnastics team is the Gold Across America Tour. Billed as a “pop concert-style spectacle” that will showcase the “athletic brilliance and championship journeys” of Biles and a number of other Olympic gymnasts, the tour will traverse 30 cities between September and November.
One of the stars who is expected to headline alongside Biles is teammate Jordan Chiles. However, there has been some doubt surrounding her participation in the high-profile event amid her Olympics floor exercise final controversy.
Chiles was stripped of her bronze medal after it was deemed that her initially approved appeal during the competition fell four seconds outside the mandated review period. The 0.100 points added to her final tally were reversed, leading to her falling from third to fifth place. Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu is now recognized as the rightful owner of the bronze medal.
Chiles has been on a social media hiatus over the past several weeks, and there has been no official word from her camp on her participation in the Gold Across America Tour. The 23-year-old has not backed out, but she has yet to make an official confirmation either in light of recent events.
It appears, however, that Biles herself has some inside information on her teammate and good friend. In a recent interview with People, Biles revealed how she’s been keeping in touch with Jordan as Simone does everything she can to “keep supporting her and uplifting her.”
Biles also all but confirmed that Chiles will take part in the Gold Across America Tour.
“Biles lauds the 23-year-old’s vibrant ‘personality and grit and her heart’ — all of which she says will be on display when the Gold Across America Tour kicks off next month,” wrote Anna Lazarus Caplan and Janine Rubenstein of People.
You love to hear it. Hopefully, with the unwavering support of Biles and Jordan’s family and friends, Chiles will be in a better place once the tour officially kicks off in three weeks’ time.
