In a surprising turn of events, U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles has been ordered to return the bronze medal she earned in the women’s floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the decision after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that a scoring appeal by Chiles’ coaches was submitted too late.
During the floor exercise final, Chiles initially received a score of 13.666, placing her fifth behind Romania’s Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea. However, after the U.S. coaches filed an inquiry, Chiles’ score was adjusted by one-tenth of a point, elevating her to third place and pushing Barbosu out of medal contention.
The Romanian Gymnastics Federation quickly challenged the timing of the U.S. inquiry, claiming it was filed four seconds after the official deadline. CAS upheld the Romanians’ appeal, determining that Chiles’ revised score was invalid and restoring her original score. The IOC subsequently confirmed that the bronze medal would be reallocated to Barbosu.
USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee expressed their disappointment in the ruling, calling it “devastating” for Chiles. They also condemned the online abuse Chiles has faced since the controversy began, praising her for maintaining her integrity throughout the ordeal. Chiles, 23, has since announced a break from social media to focus on her mental health.
The IOC is now working with the national Olympic committees of Romania and the United States to arrange the formal reallocation of the bronze medal to Barbosu. The decision brings a contentious conclusion to the women’s floor exercise final, highlighting the intense pressure and scrutiny faced by athletes at the highest level of competition.
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