UCLA's Jordan Chiles named 2026 AAI Award winner

Chiles is the fifth AAI Award winner from UCLA, the most of any school.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:06am

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UCLA senior and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles was named the 2026 AAI Award winner, considered the highest honor in NCAA women's gymnastics. Chiles was selected from a field of 44 other senior athletes, including six other finalists.

Why it matters

The AAI Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes the top senior gymnast in the country, highlighting the excellence and leadership of student-athletes in the sport. Chiles' win continues UCLA's dominance in the award, cementing the program's status as a powerhouse in NCAA gymnastics.

The details

Chiles, a 3-time NCAA champion and the top-ranked floor worker in the country this season, was named the 2026 AAI Award winner following the conclusion of Thursday's semifinal competition at the 2026 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships. She was up against a long list of 44 other senior athletes, including six other finalists from Michigan, Alabama, Arkansas, Stanford, Michigan State, and Oklahoma.

  • Chiles was named the 2026 AAI Award winner on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • 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.

The players

Jordan Chiles

A UCLA senior and Olympic gold medalist, Chiles was named the 2026 AAI Award winner, considered the highest honor in NCAA women's gymnastics.

Donna Kemp

A former UCLA gymnast who won the AAI Award in 1984.

Mohini Bhardwaj

A former UCLA gymnast who won the AAI Award in 2001.

Jamie Dantzscher

A former UCLA gymnast who won the AAI Award in 2004.

Vanessa Zamarripa

A former UCLA gymnast who won the AAI Award in 2013.

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The takeaway

Jordan Chiles' AAI Award win solidifies UCLA's status as a powerhouse in NCAA gymnastics, with the program now boasting the most winners of the prestigious honor. Chiles' excellence and leadership throughout her collegiate career have cemented her legacy as one of the sport's top student-athletes.