Jordan Chiles Stripped of Bronze Medal in Olympic Dispute
- Jordan Chiles lost her bronze medal in Olympic floor exercise due to a late-filed inquiry.
- Controversy erupted as USA gymnast Chiles was stripped of her medal and Romania's Ana Barbosu was awarded the bronze.
- Support from fellow gymnasts Simone Biles and Suni Lee boosted Chiles amid the turmoil.
U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles has expressed her discontent with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to strip her of her Olympic bronze medal, 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 win, stated that the decision has been compounded by "racially driven attacks" on social media, which have been condemned by her family. The controversy arose after Chiles' coach filed an appeal to challenge her score, which had been adjusted to place her in third. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the appeal was submitted four seconds past the one-minute deadline, leading to the reinstatement of her original score of 13.666. USA Gymnastics has claimed to possess evidence that the appeal was filed on time and has vowed to continue fighting for Chiles' medal. In a surprising twist, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation has proposed that all three athletes involved—Chiles, Barbosu, and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea—share the bronze medal. This suggestion comes amid allegations of a conflict of interest involving the CAS panel chair, who has ties to the Romanian government. Chiles remains determined to seek justice, stating she will not give up despite the setbacks. As the situation unfolds, support for Chiles has poured in from fellow gymnasts, including Simone Biles, who expressed her solidarity on social media. The ongoing saga has captivated sports fans and raised questions about fairness and integrity in Olympic competitions.