U.S. Gymnast Jordan Chiles May Lose Olympic Bronze Medal After Court Ruling

I find it truly heartbreaking to witness the rollercoaster of emotions that Jordan Chiles, a shining star of American gymnastics, has been experiencing. The twists and turns in her Olympic journey are reminiscent of the complex twists and flips she masterfully executes on the floor.

It’s possible that U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles might need to give back the bronze medal she earned at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has decided in favor of an appeal lodged by the Romanian gymnastics team.

On the 5th of August, during the women’s floor exercise final, I watched as Chiles initially scored 13.666, placing her fifth. This position put her just behind Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea from Romania, who both achieved a score of 13.700. It seemed that the tiebreaker would award Barbosu the bronze due to her higher execution score. However, it turned out differently in the end.

Nevertheless, American coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi lodged an appeal on the spot, contending that the scored routine’s level of difficulty was inaccurate. The judges concurred, and Chiles’ score was revised by 0.1 points, allowing them to edge past Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea.

Following the awarding of medals, the Romanian team chose to lodge their own protest, highlighting that Team USA’s protest was submitted beyond the one-minute window for contesting the judges’ scoring decisions.

In this situation, CAS concurred with the Romanians’ argument regarding the deadline for appeals. They noted that Team USA’s appeal was made one minute and four seconds past when Chiles’ score was displayed publicly (as per the rules, Chiles’ coaches had only a minute to submit an inquiry, while other teams had until they saw the score of the next gymnast to voice their appeals verbally).

Consequently, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) reverted to the initial scoring system as per the court’s decision, resulting in Barbosu securing third place, Maneca-Voinea taking fourth position, and Chiles moving into fifth.

As a follower, I’d like to clarify that it’s the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who holds the authority to handle any reallocation of medals.

“USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee expressed deep disappointment over the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision on the women’s floor exercise ruling. The petition about Jordan Chiles’ routine Difficulty Value was submitted in good faith, as we understood it followed FIG rules to ensure fair scoring.”

“During the entire appeal phase, Jordan has faced a persistent barrage of unfounded and deeply painful criticism on social media. It’s utterly unacceptable for any athlete to endure such treatment. I strongly denounce these attacks and those who initiate, encourage, or condone them. I admire Jordan for maintaining her dignity, integrity, and sportsmanship, not just on the competition floor but also off it. I stand by her side, offering my unwavering support.”

Previously on Saturday, Chile shared an Instagram story featuring four broken heart emojis, followed by a statement that she was stepping back from social media for her mental well-being. Fellow athletes Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee have been vocal in expressing their support for her during this challenging period.

“Instead of continually focusing on the athlete, let’s not forget about the judges! This behavior is inappropriate,” Lee expressed on Instagram. “I am deeply saddened by this situation and feel for Jordan… All my admiration goes to you, and you will forever be known as an Olympic champion.”

Biles reshared Lee’s comment and posted a heartfelt message alongside a picture of them both following the announcement of the floor exercise results: “A lot of love to you, Jordan. Stay positive, Olympic champion! We admire you!”

2024-08-11 01:16

U.S. Gymnast Jordan Chiles May Lose Olympic Bronze Medal After Court Ruling

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