Controversy over Olympic Gymnastics Bronze Medal
- Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu was presented with the Olympic bronze medal originally awarded to American Jordan Chiles.
- The controversy arose from a scoring dispute, leading to Jordan Chiles being stripped of her medal.
- Despite appeals, Ana Barbosu ultimately received the bronze medal in a ceremony in Romania.
Bucharest, Romania – Ana Barbosu was awarded her Olympic bronze medal for the floor exercise on Friday, following a contentious ruling that stripped American gymnast Jordan Chiles of the medal. The ceremony, held in Bucharest, marked the culmination of a dispute over scoring that has drawn significant attention. Barbosu expressed her gratitude and acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, stating, “I hope everyone understands that we didn’t do anything wrong at the Olympic Games.” The controversy began when Chiles initially secured a bronze medal after a scoring inquiry raised her score, pushing Barbosu to fourth place. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Team USA's appeal was submitted four seconds late, leading to Barbosu being reinstated as the bronze medalist. The Romanian Gymnastics Federation had suggested that Barbosu, Chiles, and fellow Romanian gymnast Sabrina Maneca-Voinea share the medal, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ultimately decided against this. Chiles, who has faced backlash on social media, described the decision as “unjust” and expressed her disappointment in the handling of the situation. She remains hopeful that her medal will be returned, as USA Gymnastics continues to pursue further appeals, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal. Barbosu, reflecting on the ordeal, emphasized the importance of the Olympic spirit and extended her thoughts to her fellow competitors, underscoring the shared challenges faced by all athletes involved.