Romanians Challenge Gymnast's Score at Olympics
- The Romanian Olympic Committee has appealed against Sabrina Maneca-Voinea's score in the floor exercise final.
- This action was prompted by an inquiry made on behalf of American gymnast Jordan Chiles, leading to outrage in Romania.
- The outcome of this appeal has the potential to affect the standings of both gymnasts.
PARIS (AP) — The Romanian Olympic Committee has formally appealed the score of gymnast Sabrina Maneca-Voinea following a contentious floor exercise final at the Paris Games. The appeal was prompted by a last-minute inquiry from the coaches of American competitor Jordan Chiles, which resulted in a score adjustment that left Maneca-Voinea and her teammate Ana Barbosu outside the medal standings. Both Romanian gymnasts finished with identical scores of 13.700, but Barbosu believed she had secured bronze based on a tiebreaker. Chiles, competing last, initially placed fifth but saw her score increased by 0.1 after her coaches requested a review. This change pushed her ahead of Maneca-Voinea, leading to outrage among the Romanian team. Mihai Covaliu, president of the Romanian Olympic Committee, expressed his discontent in a letter to the International Gymnastics Federation, criticizing the handling of the score assessment and the lack of transparency regarding the appeal process. He emphasized the negative impact on the athletes' mental health and the integrity of international gymnastics. The Romanian Gymnastics Federation has also voiced its intention to rectify the situation, aiming to restore the rights of Maneca-Voinea and Barbosu. In response to the controversy, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced he would boycott the closing ceremony, vowing to honor the gymnasts as Olympic medalists. Gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci also condemned the situation, highlighting the emotional toll on the athletes. The incident marks a significant moment for Romanian gymnastics, which has struggled to regain its former glory since the 2012 London Games.