Court of Arbitration for Sport Denies Appeal for Jordan Chiles' Bronze Medal

U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles has expressed her discontent with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to strip her of her bronze medal from the Paris Olympics, labeling it "unjust." This ruling followed a successful appeal by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, which resulted in Ana Barbosu being awarded the bronze. Chiles, who initially celebrated her medal, has faced a barrage of racially charged attacks on social media, which she condemned in a heartfelt statement on Instagram. The controversy stems from a timing dispute regarding an appeal filed by Chiles' coach, which was deemed to have been submitted four seconds past the one-minute deadline. USA Gymnastics has asserted that they possess evidence proving the appeal was filed within the time limit. Despite this, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled against Chiles, reinstating her original score of 13.666 and relegating her to fifth place. The IOC subsequently confirmed the decision to strip her of the medal. In light of the ongoing turmoil, USA Gymnastics has vowed to continue fighting for Chiles' rights, even considering an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal. Meanwhile, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation has proposed a solution that would see all three athletes—Chiles, Barbosu, and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea—share the bronze medal, aiming to resolve the conflict amicably. Chiles, who has previously won a gold medal in the team event and a silver in Tokyo, remains determined to seek justice. She stated, "I will make every effort to ensure that justice is done," as she navigates the emotional fallout from this unprecedented situation.