Jordan Chiles Stripped of Bronze Medal Amid Controversy and Online Abuse
American gymnast Jordan Chiles has been stripped of the bronze medal she initially won in the women’s floor final on Monday, following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The decision came after CAS upheld an appeal from the Romanian Olympic Committee, which argued that an inquiry submitted by the U.S. team regarding Chiles’ score was filed outside the allowed time limit.
Chiles originally scored 13.666, placing her fifth in the competition. However, a subsequent inquiry by Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, led to an adjustment in her difficulty rating, increasing her score to 13.766 and moving her into third place. This change displaced Romania’s Ana Barbosu, who had celebrated her bronze medal after initially scoring 13.7.
The Romanian team quickly protested the decision, and Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, described the situation as “scandalous,” even threatening to boycott the closing ceremony. The CAS ultimately ruled that the U.S. team’s inquiry was “untimely,” having been submitted four seconds after the one-minute deadline, leading to the reinstatement of Chiles’ original score of 13.666, which dropped her to fifth place. Barbosu has now been officially awarded the bronze medal.
USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee expressed their disappointment with the decision, stating they were “devastated” and condemning the “consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks” that Chiles has endured on social media during the appeal process. The organizations emphasized that the inquiry into Chiles’ score was made in good faith, aiming for accurate scoring in accordance with FIG rules.
Chiles, who had already won gold in the women’s team event, responded to the situation by stepping away from social media, citing concerns for her mental health. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she expressed her pain by sharing four broken heart emojis and later announced her temporary withdrawal from social platforms.
Chiles’ teammates and the broader gymnastics community have rallied around her, with Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee among those publicly supporting her. Biles, who won silver in the floor event, posted a message of encouragement, calling Chiles an “Olympic champ” and expressing her love and support. Sunisa Lee also voiced her frustration with the judging process, describing the situation as “completely unacceptable.”
As the dust settles, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is coordinating with the U.S. team for the return of Chiles’ bronze medal and with the Romanian Olympic Committee to arrange a reallocation ceremony for Barbosu.
Chiles’ experience has sparked discussions about the pressures and scrutiny athletes face, particularly in the age of social media, and the need for continued support for their mental well-being.
