Jordyn Wieber

Consistent, emotive, and powerfully positive, Jordyn Weiber was a valuable member of the “Fierce Five” at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and a member of the gold-winning American team at the 2011 gymnastics World Championships. 

While now retired from gymnastics, Jordyn Wieber continues to share her expertise and passion for the sport as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics team.

Born for the beam

Jordyn Marie Wieber was born on July 12th, 1995 in Dewitt, Michigan. She was naturally muscular and athletic, and her parents enrolled her in gymnastics at the young age of two when they realized how long she could balance on one foot. This turned out to be the right decision!

Jordyn Wieber was an absolute natural at gymnastics, and her cheerful nature made her a joy for all who worked with her. Though she suffered from athlete-induced asthma, and sometimes needed to use an inhaler during competitions, she never let it hold her back.

Jordyn Weiber’s favorite event was the balance beam, but she shined brightly in all events. By the age of seven, Wieber was already on a National team for the top gymnasts in her age group, and at age 8, she participated in the Early States Championships where she dominated the bars, vault, beam, and all-around. 

Wieber decided to enroll with coach John Geddart to further her skills, and she continued to rocket up and up. By age 10 she was Level 10 in the Junior Olympic Program, and by 11 she had qualified for international elite level. By age 12, she was competing in the Junior Pan American Champions, where she won gold on bars and beam and the team competition. 

From the City of Jesolo Trophy to the American Cup to the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, Jordyn Wieber continued to excel, earning medal after medal in both team and individual events. 

When it came time for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Jordyn Wieber was a shoo-in for the team.

Striking gold in London

In the Olympic qualifying rounds, Wieber came in fourth behind her teammates Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas. Because of the rule limiting participating countries to a maximum of two competitors in the all-around final, this meant Weiber couldn't advance to the finals, even though she scored 60.032, less than .35 points behind her teammates.

Wieber was gutted that she couldn’t achieve her dream of winning the gold in the all-around, but she was also incredibly proud and supportive of Raisman and Douglas.

Jordyn Wieber continued to give the competition her all, and in the team final, contributed scores of 15.933 on vault, 14.666 on uneven bars, and 15.000 on floor toward the team’s gold medal finish.

When the competition was over, it came out that Wieber had been competing on a stress fracture in her right leg. "I know that eventually affected my performance.” she said in an interview with USA Today. “In the end, I have no regrets…I'm glad I fought through and finished out to the end."

Inspiring generations to come 

After retirement, Wieber enrolled at UCLA. During her senior year, she became an assistant gymnastics coach, and continued her role there after graduation. As  the floor exercise coach, she helped the Bruins rank number 1 in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, and was named West Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2018. 

In 2019, Wieber accepted a position as the head coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics program. This made her the first Olympic champion gymnast ever to lead a collegiate women's gymnastics program.

In her free time, Wieber continues to inspire by volunteering her time with the St. Jude's Children's Research Center, the Giving Tree project, and local 5k races.

Jordyn Wieber was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2020, and recently announced her engagement to fellow Olympian Chris Brooks on October 5th, 2021. There can only be good things ahead for this positive and passionate gift to the world of gymnastics.