UCLA senior Jordan Chiles has been named the winner of the 2026 AAI Award, an honor bestowed annually to the most outstanding senior gymnast in the nation. Selected from a field of 45 nominees and narrowed to seven finalists, the award recognizes excellence in gymnastics, leadership, and academics. Normally narrowed to a field of six, Chiles was chosen from a field of seven due to a tie in voting.
Chiles spent most of her time as the leading all-arounder in the nation during her 2026 senior season, averaging over a 39.700. Additionally, helping to lead the team to a Big Ten title before taking the regional title at Corvallis. She notched eight perfect 10.0s this past season, five of which came back-to-back. Her regional event titles on vault and floor set a new record with ten regional titles total. At the close of regionals, Chiles was the only gymnast nationally ranked fifth or higher across all the events and the all around.
Over the course of her collegiate career, Chiles has amassed 19 perfect 10.0s across vault, bars, and floor. She holds four NCAA event titles and was named the 2023 and 2026 WCGA West Region Gymnast of the Year and has 130 event titles to her name during her career, with 48 her senior year alone. The last Bruin to win the AAI Award was Vanessa Zamarripa in 2013.
Chiles edged out an elite group of fellow finalists for the award: Carly Bauman (Michigan), Gabby Gladieux (Alabama), Morgan Price (Arkansas), Anna Roberts (Stanford), Nikki Smith (Michigan State), and Faith Torrez (Oklahoma). Each gymnast brought unique accolades and accomplishments, as well as a lasting impact on their programs, to the table, making the final decision a testament to Chiles’ exceptional impact on the sport.
READ THIS NEXT: Price Finishes Full-Circle Career at NCAA National Championships
Article by Allison Freeman
