REPORT: US gymnast Jordan Chiles made unbelievable decision on her career
American gymnast Jordan Chiles described the decision to revoke her bronze medal from the Paris Olympics as “unjust,” and revealed that she has since been subjected to a wave of racist attacks on social media.
Chiles originally won the bronze medal in the women’s floor final, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later ruled that the medal should be awarded to Romania’s Ana Bǎrbosu instead.
Initially, Chiles scored 13.666, placing her fifth behind Bǎrbosu, who earned the bronze with a score of 13.700. However, after an inquiry by U.S. gymnastics coach Cecile Landi regarding Chiles’ difficulty score, the judges adjusted her score by 0.1 to 13.766, moving her up to third place.
This achievement was historic, as it marked the first time that all three podium positions in an Olympic event were held by Black women.
However, the Romanian Olympic Committee soon appealed, arguing that Landi’s inquiry was submitted after the official one-minute deadline. Consequently, CAS reversed their decision, restoring Bǎrbosu to third place and moving Chiles back to fifth.
In a statement on Instagram, Chiles expressed her gratitude for the support she received, but shared her disappointment over losing the medal. She stated, “I had confidence in the appeal brought by USAG, who presented conclusive evidence that my score adhered to all the rules. Unfortunately, the appeal was unsuccessful.”
Chiles also spoke out against the racially motivated attacks she has faced online, stating, “These unprovoked, racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and deeply hurtful. I’ve poured my heart into this sport and am proud to represent both my culture and my country.”
On Wednesday, the case took a new twist when CAS condemned “outrageous statements” alleging a conflict of interest involving its panel, led by Hamid G. Gharavi, who was reported to have worked with the Romanian government for about a decade. The court dismissed claims of bias.
Despite the setback, Chiles vowed to continue fighting for justice, expressing her belief that “those in charge will ultimately do the right thing.”
She concluded her statement by reaffirming her commitment to integrity, sportsmanship, and fairness, and stated that she would confront this challenge as she has others, with determination to see justice served.