Two-time Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles has once again proven that personal achievements and body art are inextricably linked. Ahead of the grand 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show, held in Miami, the 24-year-old athlete decided on an instant performance: she got a new tattoo just a few hours before walking the runway and immediately showcased the fresh design to millions of viewers.
Tattoo as Part of the Performance: Behind the Scenes in Miami
For an Olympic gymnast, whose body is an instrument of the highest achievements, tattoos have always carried deep meaning. Chiles, who actively documented her trip to Miami for fans on TikTok, decided to immortalize her participation in the legendary Sports Illustrated Swimsuit project right during preparations for the show.
“For my Sports Illustrated cover… all my tattoos have meaning, so I’m going to debut this one today right on the runway,” she told her followers on the third day of the trip, emphasizing that it’s not just an adornment but an important symbol connected to her career milestone.
The tattooing process itself looked like part of a luxurious show. The camera captured the artist sketching the design, and then the process began – all happening on a chic balcony overlooking the sunny Miami beaches. This choice of location and timing highlights that for modern celebrities, a tattoo session can be as public and glamorous an event as the runway show itself.
After the session, while her sister helped the athlete with her hair for the show, Jordan shared her impressions, calling the fresh work “fire” and noting that “everyone really liked it.”
Symbolism on Skin: Swimsuit and the Number 25
The new design, which now adorns Jordan Chiles’ body, is executed in a minimalist yet extremely symbolic style, perfectly fitting the context of the event.
The design features an elegant outline: a swimsuit and bikini hanging on a clothesline that smoothly transitions into the number “25”. This symbol is multi-layered:
- Swimsuit/Bikini: A direct reference to her participation in the SI Swimsuit show, instantly immortalizing this iconic moment in her career.
- Clothesline: May symbolize readiness, lightness, and the ease with which the gymnast transitions into the world of fashion and media.
- The Number “25”: Most likely, this denotes the year 2025, the year Chiles not only participated in the show but also became one of the four cover stars of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
The tattoo’s debut took place on May 31, 2025. During her first runway walk – in a high-waisted two-piece swimsuit adorned with a blue and brown polka dot print – Jordan Chiles, beaming with a smile, specifically pointed with her nails to her new body art, ensuring the cameras captured the fresh symbol.
On her second appearance, the athlete was seen in a white striped bikini with nude straps and accessorized with a cowboy hat, which she dramatically lifted for the photographers.
Tattoo Culture at its Peak: The SI Cover Context
Jordan Chiles’ participation in the SI Swimsuit project was historic. She became one of the four cover stars for 2025, sharing this status with icons like Salma Hayek, Lauren Chan, and Livvy Dunne. The gymnast’s reaction to being chosen for the cover was incredibly emotional.
“I literally started crying. My mom screamed. Everyone in the restaurant was asking, ‘What happened? What’s going on?’ My sister was just ecstatic,” Chiles recalled. “I think at that moment they realized: I’ve achieved a lot in my life, but it’s these little things that make it even better.”