UCLA’s gymnastics team won two major awards Monday when Jordan Chiles was selected Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and Janelle McDonald was named Coach of the Year in voting by conference head coaches.
Chiles’ selection was no surprise given the Olympian won the Big Ten all-around title with a championship-record score of 39.825. She also won a record 10 of the 11 Gymnast of the Week awards.
Jordan Chiles of the UCLA Bruins competes on floor exercise during the Big Fours meet at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on February 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Getty ImagesHer dominance also included winning the floor exercise title with a perfect 10 for the second straight year, an unprecedented feat. She also captured the balance beam title and a share of the uneven bars title. Those four individual championships this season tied for the Big Ten’s single-season record.
For the season, Chiles collected seven perfect 10s, including one stretch where she scored a perfect 10 in five consecutive meets.
Jordan Chiles of the UCLA Bruins competes on balance beam during the Big Fours meet at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on February 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Jordan Chiles attending Jhpiego Maternal Health Gala. (Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock) Chelsea Lauren/ShutterstockMcDonald is a repeat winner as Coach of the Year after guiding her team to back-to-back regular season and conference championships. UCLA went 9-0 in conference play for a second straight year and has not lost to a Big Ten opponent in any competition since joining the league last year.
Under McDonald, four Bruins earned All-Big Ten honors in 2026. Chiles, Ashlee Sullivan and Tiana Sumanasekera were selected to the first team and Ciena Alipio to the second team.
Michigan’s Carly Bauman was named Event Specialist of the Year and Minnesota’s Arianna Ostrum was named Freshman of the Year.
The Bruins have won 10 consecutive meets to earn a No. 4 seed in the NCAA regionals on April 3 in Corvallis, Ore.
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