One after another, comic-book-style designs of UCLA gymnasts appeared on the jumbotron. But it was clear one Bruin was omitted.
“Wait, we’re missing someone,” a text bubble in the team’s introduction video emphasized.
Just as she soared through the sky in the video, akin to a superhero, Jordan Chiles returned to Westwood for the first time since winning team gold at the Paris Olympics. And just like when the crowd erupted as the public address announcer roared her name as pyrotechnics sparkled behind her, Pauley Pavilion’s lower bowl did the same once more when Chiles nailed her final pass for a team-high 9.