UCLA's Jordan Chiles trains on beam at the 2026 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships.UCLA's Jordan Chiles trains on beam at the 2026 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships.

© Amy Sanderson/Gymnastics Now

FORT WORTH, Texas – UCLA senior and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles was named the 2026 AAI Award winner on Thursday.

The 3-time ? NCAA champion and top-ranked floor worker in the country this season received what is considered to be the highest award in NCAA women’s gymnastics. It is given to one outstanding senior every year, with the tradition starting in 1982.

Chiles was up against a long list of 44 other senior athletes, including six other finalists: Carly Bauman (Michigan), Gabby Gladieux (Alabama), Morgan Price (Arkansas), Anna Roberts (Stanford), Nikki Smith (Michigan State), and Faith Torrez (Oklahoma).

Chiles is the fifth AAI Award winner from UCLA, joining Donna Kemp (1984), Mohini Bhardwaj (2001), Jamie Dantzscher (2004), Vanessa Zamarripa (2013). UCLA now has the most AAI Award winners of any school.

Chiles finished the 2026 regular season ranked No. 1 on floor, No. 2 in the all-around, No. 3 on vault, and No. 4 on bars and beam.

Chiles was named the 2026 AAI Award winner following the conclusion of Thursday’s semifinal competition at the 2026 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships.