It’s not every day you see an Olympic medalist have her hard-earned glory snatched away, but here we are. Jordan Chiles, fresh off an emotional high after winning her first individual Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Games, is now caught up in a drama that could rival any reality TV show. One minute she’s celebrating with her teammates, the next, she’s facing the possibility of having to return her bronze medal. So, what exactly went down, and more importantly, will she get to keep that coveted hardware? After a brief break from social media, Jordan finally responded for the first time since being told to return her medal.
Jordan Chiles’ Response To Medal Controversy
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For most of this controversy, Jordan has stayed pretty quiet. But on August 15, she finally broke her silence with an Instagram post featuring a picture of herself and a written statement she signed herself. She said that she’s “overwhelmed by the love” she’s been receiving and spoke about how “unjust” she felt the ruling was. She also addressed “racial driven attacks” she and her opponent had experienced on social media. She ended the statement speaking about her journey to finding joy again and her trust that “the people in control” will make the right decision. Ugh, an incredible athlete and a wise queen. We stan.
Why Was Jordan Chiles In Danger Of Losing Her Bronze Medal?
Okay, so picture this: Jordan, queen of the floor exercise, just gave it her all at the Paris Games. She’s waiting for her score, and boom, it comes in at 13.666 — good, but not good enough for a medal. But then her coach, Cecile Landi, swoops in with an inquiry faster than you can say “stick the landing,” and the judges bump her score up to 13.766. Suddenly, Jordan’s got that bronze, and everyone’s celebrating like… well, like she just won an Olympic medal.
But wait — cue the record scratch — because the Romanian team isn’t having it. They file an appeal, saying Cecile’s inquiry came in four seconds past the deadline. Four. Seconds. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) agrees, and just like that, Jordan’s bronze is yanked back fast AF. The International Olympic Committee ruled early Sunday Jordan will be required to return her Olympic medal. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) made it official: the bronze goes to Ana Bărbosu of Romania, who, understandably, is experiencing all sorts of emotional whiplash.
What’s The Latest Ruling?
Enter USA Gymnastics, stage right, waving video evidence like it’s a golden ticket. They claim they’ve got proof that Cecile’s inquiry was within the allowed time. USA Gymnastics and USOPC said in a statement that they were “devastated” by the ruling, arguing that the inquiry into Chiles’ score was “filed in good faith” and in accordance with rules. Now they’re ready to fight it out in the gymnastics version of a legal duel.
In a turn of events more dramatic than a Real Housewives reunion, the CAS originally stuck to their guns, dismissing Romania’s request to redo the scores for another gymnast, Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, and rejecting the idea of a three-way tie for bronze. Meanwhile, the FIG started planning a medal ceremony for Ana, while the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) vowed to appeal.
And Jordan? She was trying to keep her chin up, but honestly, who wouldn’t be devastated? She stepped back from social media for her mental health — because, let’s face it, we know how people on the internet are. And responded to the controversy in an IG post on August 15.
So, will Jordan get to keep her bronze medal after all? The gymnastics world is holding its breath. On Aug. 12, USA Gymnastics wrote in a statement posted to X that it’s continuing to pursue “every possible avenue” of an appeal despite the CAS declining its initial efforts.
“We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan,” the statement reads.
Stay tuned, because this saga is far from over! CAS did the leave the door open for the case to be revisited. “If new evidence (i.e. objectively unknown at the time of the CAS hearing) appears after the issuance of the CAS decision, it would be possible to ask the Swiss Federal Tribunal to order that the case be reopened,” CAS said in its statement to The Athletic. “The CAS would also reopen the case spontaneously if all parties agree.”
The evidence could swing things back in her favor, but in the wild, unpredictable world of Olympic gymnastics, nothing’s guaranteed.
