Jordan Chiles Forced to Return Gymnastics Bronze Medal for Heartbreaking Reason

Jordan Chiles, the American gymnast who captured the bronze medal in the floor exercise, has been ordered to return her medal following a recent court ruling. This decision stems from an improper judging of her final score during the competition.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) addressed an appeal filed by Team USA coach Cecile Landi, which sought to increase Chiles’ score. Her score was initially upgraded by 0.1 points, promoting her from fifth to third place, which secured her the bronze medal.

The ruling, announced on Saturday, outlined that the appeal made by Landi was submitted 1 minute and 4 seconds after the score was revealed. The rules stipulated that appeals must be made within a strict one-minute timeframe, rendering the appeal invalid.

As a result, the CAS ruling restored the original finishing order of the event, placing Romania’s Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea in the third and fourth positions, respectively, while Chiles was relegated back to fifth place.

CAS directed that the final decision regarding the ranking be handed over to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). The FIG then stated that the decision to reallocate the bronze medal ultimately lay with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

On Sunday, the IOC confirmed the decision to revoke Chiles’ medal, awarding it to Barbosu, who was initially in third place before the score adjustment was made to Chiles.

In their statement, the IOC mentioned, “The IOC will reallocate the bronze medal to Ana Barbosu (Romania). We are in touch with the NOC of Romania to discuss the reallocation ceremony and with USOPC regarding the return of the bronze medal.”

Following the CAS verdict, Chiles expressed her thoughts on Instagram, stating she would be stepping away from social media for the sake of her mental health. She thanked her supporters while taking this necessary time for herself.

In response to the ruling, USA Gymnastics expressed their disappointment. They stated, “The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring.”

Chiles’ teammate, Simone Biles, showed her support for Chiles by posting a message filled with encouragement. Biles said, “Sending you so much love Jordan. Keep your chin up ‘Olympic champ’ we love you.”

Furthermore, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) issued a statement indicating their intention to appeal the decision. They firmly believe that Chiles justifiably earned her bronze medal and identified significant errors in both the initial scoring by FIG and the subsequent appeal process managed by CAS.

The USOPC articulated, “The initial error occurred in the scoring by FIG, and the second error was during the CAS appeal process, where the USOPC was not given adequate time or notice to effectively challenge the decision.”

The committee highlighted that they are considering appealing to Switzerland’s highest court, the Swiss Tribunal, or the European Court of Human Rights in pursuit of rectifying the situation.

This controversy has not only impacted Chiles but has drawn attention to the scoring and appeal processes within international gymnastics competitions. The developments surrounding her medal have sparked discussions about the need for comprehensive review and potential reforms in judging standards to prevent similar situations in the future.