Gold medal winning gymnast Jordan Chiles took the Paris Olympics by storm alongside her teammates this week - and didn't let her routines stop her from rocking an elaborate manicure.
'A lot of people always ask me how I do gymnastics with such long nails. To tell you the truth, they actually help me with my technique,' the Team USA star told Associated Press in a video interview.
'That's really how I make sure I don't break a nail,' Jordan, 23, explained, as she appears to wear acrylics, which are tougher, and harder to break, even while tumbling.
Commenters were shocked she managed to compete and keep her nails in tact during her intense routines.
Some gymnasts explained they thought Jordan's long nails would help her remain light on her hands and have a better sense of where she placed them when she tumbled.
Gold medal winning gymnast Jordan Chiles took the Paris Olympics by storm alongside her teammates - and didn't let her routines stop her from rocking an elaborate manicure
'A lot of people always ask me how I do gymnastics with such long nails. To tell you the truth, they actually help me with my technique,' the Team USA star said
Despite the acrylics being more durable than natural nails, that doesn't mean they always remain intact.
'One literally broke in half and started bleeding, [but] a majority of the time, my nails are normally either this long or I've had longer,' Jordan said, showing off her manicure.
Jordan might be allowed to show off her manicure while competing, but that doesn't mean everyone approves.
People might wonder if it's difficult to compete with such an intricate manicure, but she said, 'I can do gymnastics with nails,' and they even help inject a bit of her personality into the sport.
'People always have to have that one little touch of who they are within their sport. Mine's my nails.'
AP shared the video on TikTok, where fans were quick to weigh in on how the nails could help her compete - and how impressive they were.
'I can't wash dishes without breaking a nail. That's freaking… a level of coordinated I couldn't dream of!' one person wrote on TikTok.
'I broke a nail doing a cartwheel just the other day. I was drunk but that's besides the point,' another joked.
AP shared the video on TikTok, where fans were quick to weigh in on how the nails could help her compete - and how impressive they were
'I can't wash dishes without breaking a nail. That's freaking… a level of coordinated I couldn't dream of!' one person wrote on TikTok
Commenters were shocked she managed to compete and keep her nails unbroken during her intense routines
Some explained why it would help, with one woman writing, 'I used to say the same it keeps me light on my hands,' and another commenting, 'I tumble with my nails too and it lowkey helps because I'm aware of my hands.'
After Inside Gymnastics Magazine shared a snap of her patriotic manicure on Instagram and quotes from her AP video, commenters wondered if having long nails made tumbling more difficult.
'I always wonder about that! I can hardly type on a keyboard with long nails let alone tumble and do all gymnasts do,' one person mused.
'How do you do gymnastics with long nails? Extremely well, actually! Take a page from Liberace when they'd ask how he played piano with all his rings. He gave the same brilliant answer,' another person weighed in.
'Nobody should be commenting about her nails, her makeup or her hair. It doesn't have anything to do with how she performs. And she is amazing at that,' one proud fan proclaimed.
Chiles represented Team USA in Paris alongside teammates Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera.
The group of women jokingly called themselves the Golden Girls because they were the oldest gymnasts to compete.
The entire team wore leotards emblazoned with Swarovski crystals that would retail for about $5,000, and paid tribute to the famed 1996 US women's gymnastics team.
The leotards were just as ornate as her fabulous manicure.
