American gymnast Jordan Chiles has made her feelings known towards children who have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and her own experience growing up with it. Chiles stated that her parents didn’t help her try to control it, but rather, help her use it in life.
Chiles was raised by her parents, Gina and Timothy Chiles, in Vancouver, Washington. They played a significant role in helping Jordan reach her current level of success, pushing her to relocate to Texas to train alongside Simone Biles at the World Champions Centre in 2019.
What Message Did Jordan Chiles Send To Parents Raising Children With ADHD?
In an interview with dancer and actress Julianne Hough, Chiles urged parents who have children with ADHD just to let them be, as that is what her parents did for her: (5:36 onwards)
“I say this to everybody, especially parents who come to me and are like, my child has a lot of energy. I’m like let them use it. Let them use that energy because you never know what they could be the most millionaire, billionaire, to have the most genius brain and you don’t even know because you are trying to contain them. And I’m happy my parents didn’t do that because I’m honestly grateful that, you know, I always say gymnastics saved my life.”
She also added by saying that she suffered various symptoms of ADHD while growing up, such as not being able to hold a full conversation:
“Was I one of those children who didn’t know how to sit in a chair to take a test? 100%, yes. Was I one of those children who, you know, couldn’t have full conversations without moving? Yes. But also my parents knew that there are ways to really execute that energy and put it into something else. So to anybody out there now, I’m not taking away from parents who, you know, do what they have to do. I’m not doing any of that. But I do always say if your child does have energy, let them use it because you never know what can happen.”
Chiles has been competing on the popular reality TV show known as ‘Dancing With The Stars’, where she has been performing well alongside her partner, Ezra Sosa. Recently, the pair performed a Viennese Waltz to the song “Daughters” by John Mayer alongside Chiles’ father, Timothy, in what was a highly emotional night for the gymnast.
How Chiles Has Performed On ‘Dancing With The Stars’ This Season
Chiles and her partner Sosa have been performing well on this season of DWTS, earning consistently high scores. They most recently performed on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night, earning a score of 38 out of 40. As they near the final stages of the show’s completion, they will be looking to win the Mirrorball Trophy.