University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
2026 AAI Award Winner Jordan Chiles
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Jordan Chiles Wins 2026 AAI Awawrd
April 17, 2026 | Gymnastics
UCLA's Jordan Chiles was selected the 2026 winner of the AAI Award, presented to the nation's top senior gymnast. She becomes the fifth winner in UCLA history and first since 2013.ย
Chiles wrapped up her collegiate career as a four-time NCAA champion, winning her second career floor exercise title this season. She was also the NCAA runner-up on balance beam and captured two more All-America honors to finish as a 23-time All-American, one shy of the school record.
She scored eight perfect 10s in 2026 - six on floor exercise, one on vault and one on uneven bars. She finished with 19 career perfect 10s, which ranks 10th in NCAA history and No. 3 all-time at UCLA. ย
At the Regional level, Chiles earned her second career WCGA West Region Gymnast of the Year honor and added Regional vault and floor exercise titles to bring her career total of Regional Championships to a school-record 10.ย
Chiles was dominant in the Big Ten this year, winning Gymnast of the Year honors and being named the Gymnast of the Week a conference-record 10 times, including a stretch of eight consecutive weeks, another conference record. In just two seasons, she totaled 16 career Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors, second-most in Big Ten history. At the Big Ten Championships, she tied the conference record with four individual titles, winning the all-around, bars, beam and floor. She led the Bruins to their second consecutive Big Ten Conference title after winning the regular season title for the second year in a row.
Chiles spent most of the 2026 season ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around and ended the year ranked No. 1 on floor exercise. She was the only gymnast in the nation to finish the regular season ranked in the Top 5 on all four events and the all-around. Chiles totaled 49 event wins in 2026 and 131 in her career.ย
Her accomplishments extended beyond gymnastics. Chiles was a finalist on "Dancing with the Stars" this fall, competing on the show while training for the gymnastics season and taking a full set of classes at UCLA. She is a two-time member of the Director's Honor Roll. She was named a Time Magazine Woman of the Year in 2025, is a New York Times Best-Selling author and volunteers her time and voice for many causes, including mental health, global poverty and children's health. She also lends support to underserved communities and launched a mentorship platform designed to empower young female athletes.ย
The AAI Award celebrates the nation's top senior athletes for their leadership, dedication, and excellence in the sport. Chiles joins four other Bruin winners - Vanessa Zamarripa in 2013, Jamie Dantzscher in 2004, Mohini Bhardwaj in 2001 and Donna Kemp in 1984.ย
Chiles wrapped up her collegiate career as a four-time NCAA champion, winning her second career floor exercise title this season. She was also the NCAA runner-up on balance beam and captured two more All-America honors to finish as a 23-time All-American, one shy of the school record.
She scored eight perfect 10s in 2026 - six on floor exercise, one on vault and one on uneven bars. She finished with 19 career perfect 10s, which ranks 10th in NCAA history and No. 3 all-time at UCLA. ย
At the Regional level, Chiles earned her second career WCGA West Region Gymnast of the Year honor and added Regional vault and floor exercise titles to bring her career total of Regional Championships to a school-record 10.ย
Chiles was dominant in the Big Ten this year, winning Gymnast of the Year honors and being named the Gymnast of the Week a conference-record 10 times, including a stretch of eight consecutive weeks, another conference record. In just two seasons, she totaled 16 career Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors, second-most in Big Ten history. At the Big Ten Championships, she tied the conference record with four individual titles, winning the all-around, bars, beam and floor. She led the Bruins to their second consecutive Big Ten Conference title after winning the regular season title for the second year in a row.
Chiles spent most of the 2026 season ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around and ended the year ranked No. 1 on floor exercise. She was the only gymnast in the nation to finish the regular season ranked in the Top 5 on all four events and the all-around. Chiles totaled 49 event wins in 2026 and 131 in her career.ย
Her accomplishments extended beyond gymnastics. Chiles was a finalist on "Dancing with the Stars" this fall, competing on the show while training for the gymnastics season and taking a full set of classes at UCLA. She is a two-time member of the Director's Honor Roll. She was named a Time Magazine Woman of the Year in 2025, is a New York Times Best-Selling author and volunteers her time and voice for many causes, including mental health, global poverty and children's health. She also lends support to underserved communities and launched a mentorship platform designed to empower young female athletes.ย
The AAI Award celebrates the nation's top senior athletes for their leadership, dedication, and excellence in the sport. Chiles joins four other Bruin winners - Vanessa Zamarripa in 2013, Jamie Dantzscher in 2004, Mohini Bhardwaj in 2001 and Donna Kemp in 1984.ย
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
Jordan Chiles - 2026 NCAA Floor Exercise Champion
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