Chelsea Werner: The Gymnast Who Rewrote the Rules
Chelsea has rewritten every rule she was given — proving that determination never goes out of style.
FALL 2025
WORDS Rach Albright
PHOTOGRAPHY Alejandro Poveda
From the Special Olympics, to runways and global campaigns, Werner has made perseverance look effortless, though her path has been anything but. Here, she shares the lessons behind the medals, the moments that never made the highlight reel, and what it really means to perform, fall, and rise again on your own terms.
RACH ALBRIGHT: Hi Chelsea! Thanks so much for chatting with us. Can you introduce yourself?
CHELSEA WERNER: Hi, I’m Chelsea Werner! When I was born with Down Syndrome, the doctors told my parents everything that I would never do. I’ve been proving them wrong ever since then.
RA: What do you remember about your first ever competition? What advice would you give to her now?
CW: I started competing in Special Olympics gymnastics when I was eight. All I cared about was having fun, I loved hearing the crowd cheering for me. I would tell her to always remember to enjoy the moment.
RA: You’ve won an incredible amount of medals and awards, but is there a “behind-the-scenes” moment that made you proud but never made it to a trophy?
CW: I was invited by Simone Biles to perform at her “GOLD OVER AMERICA” tour after the Paris Olympics. I only had a few days to prepare. I was learning a new routine that would include my new aerial. I was so worried about that one skill that I kept forgetting my routine. I had a rehearsal the morning of the show, it didn’t go well. No one behind the scenes knew what to expect. When my time came to perform I was able to dig deep and pull out a great routine. The thousands of spectators knew nothing about the struggle behind the scenes.
RA: What’s a fear or challenge you’ve had to face that most people wouldn’t expect from a world-class gymnast? How did you overcome it?
CW: Most people don’t expect high level gymnasts to have mental blocks. They come out of nowhere. A few months before my last World Championship in South Africa, I experienced my first mental block. After tumbling for decades I couldn’t tumble at all.
I had to go back to relearn how to tumble from the very beginning. It took months, and very slowly I got it back in time for the World Championships.
DRESS Chona Bacaoco
RA: Was there an “aha” moment when you realized your presence in sport and fashion could change people’s perceptions? What does that feel like?
CW: When I started on social media that’s when I really realized people were really inspired and moved by what I was doing. They were very surprised someone with Down Syndrome was capable of what I was doing. I feel really happy and proud that I have made a difference in the world. I hear from parents all the time that I give them hope for their children.
RA: How did that realization affect your goals? Did it influence your choices in competitions or modeling?
CW: I think it motivated me to continue to break new barriers. In gymnastics, my coach and I control our choices. In modeling it’s different. The fashion and advertising world has become more inclusive, but it has been a slow process. Individuals with disabilities are still underrepresented. I’m always fighting for more representation!
DRESS Tong Sohung
RA: How do you want your story to inspire the next generation of athletes and creatives with disabilities?
CW: I want them to dream big! We all face challenges in our lives. We don’t have to let that stop us from achieving our goals. We are all capable of so much more than we know. I found a coach who believed in me and together we have been breaking new barriers and doing things that have never been done before.
RA: Any specific advice or mantra you share with young athletes?
CW: Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do. Work hard and always try your best! Find a coach that believes in you and puts no limitations on your abilities. ❤
STORY CREDITS
TALENT Chelsea Werner, PHOTOGRAPHER Alejandro Poveda,
WORDS Rachel Albright
HERO IMAGE CREDITS
TOP ZARA, BOTTOMS ZARA, SHOES Shoes of Prey
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