Ana Barbosu Wins Bronze Medal After Jordan Chiles’ Statement: Video

Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu has officially received her bronze medal for the 2024 Paris Olympics women’s gymnastics floor exercise. The medal was awarded during a ceremony held in Bucharest, Romania, where the 18-year-old Olympian was presented with the honor that had recently been stripped from Team USA athlete Jordan Chiles.

The ceremony took place on August 16 and was officiated by Octavian Morariu, a member of the International Olympic Committee for Romania, alongside Mihai Covaliu, the president of the Romanian Olympic and Sport Committee. This moment marked a significant shift in the outcomes of the gymnastics competition at the Olympics, as Ana expressed her thoughts on the current situation involving her fellow gymnasts.

After receiving her medal, Ana took a moment to reflect on the emotional turmoil surrounding the results, specifically mentioning fellow gymnasts Sabrina Voinea and Jordan Chiles. In an Instagram post shared by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, she stated, “It’s a difficult situation for us, with so many uncertainties and overwhelming emotions.”

Ana also emphasized the importance of the Olympic spirit, stating, “I hope everyone understands that we have not done anything wrong at the Olympics. And that the Olympic spirit is more important than any misunderstanding between the authorities.”

The events leading up to Ana’s medal ceremony unfolded dramatically just two weeks earlier. Initially, during the floor exercise competition, Ana secured third place, but judges later shifted Jordan into that position and relegated Ana to fifth. This alteration led to a moment of emotional distress for Ana, who walked away from the podium in tears while Jordan was celebrated for her bronze medal.

Romania contested the judges’ decision, resulting in a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that favored the Romanian team. The CAS stated that Team USA’s inquiry regarding Jordan’s score was submitted four seconds past the one-minute deadline. Although USA Gymnastics provided video evidence in an attempt to challenge this claim, the CAS upheld their decision, affirming the revocation of Jordan’s third-place status.

In the wake of these events, Jordan Chiles took a brief hiatus from social media before addressing the situation on August 15. In her statement, she expressed her profound disappointment, revealing the news of losing her bronze medal felt devastating. She wrote, “While celebrating my Olympic accomplishments, I heard the devastating news that my bronze medal had been stripped away.”

Jordan conveyed her faith in the appeal led by USA Gymnastics, believing they had presented clear evidence that adhered to the regulations. However, the failed appeal left her disheartened, and she articulated that the decision felt unjust, impacting not only herself but also those who have supported her throughout her journey.

Moreover, Jordan did not shy away from discussing the racial abuse she faced on social media during this period. She described these attacks as “unprompted racially driven” and labeled them “wrong” and “extremely hurtful.” Her commitment to representing her culture and country remained strong, as she expressed pride in her dedication to gymnastics.

Concluding her statement, Jordan affirmed her intent to pursue justice regarding the medal situation. She stressed that she would do everything in her power to ensure that fairness prevails and expressed hope that those in charge would ultimately do the right thing.