Jordan Chiles has spoken out against the decision to strip her of her Olympic bronze medal, calling it “unjust.” This comes after a court voided an appeal that had initially moved her from fifth to third place at the 2024 Paris Games.
In an Instagram post, Chiles expressed her frustration with the situation, stating that she has “no words” and that the ruling is a “significant blow” not only to her but to everyone who has supported her journey. She also mentioned facing “unprompted racially driven attacks” on social media as a result of the decision.
Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, had filed an appeal after the gymnast’s floor routine at the Olympics, believing that her score did not accurately reflect the difficulty of her routine. This appeal elevated Chiles to third place, displacing Romanian Ana Barbosu from medal contention.
Barbosu’s team contested the decision, arguing that the USA’s inquiry came in four seconds after the one-minute deadline to appeal. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favor of the Romanians, voiding Landi’s appeal and reassigning Chiles’ bronze medal to Barbosu.
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Despite USA Gymnastics’ efforts to appeal for Chiles to retain the medal, the Court denied it, stating that evidence showed the inquiry was made after the deadline. Chiles expressed confidence in USAG’s appeal and reiterated that her score followed all rules.
Although she described the decision as “devastating,” Chiles expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received and vowed to continue fighting the ruling alongside her loved ones, teammates, coaches, and USA Gymnastics.
“I will approach this challenge as I have others — and will make every effort to ensure that justice is done,” Chiles said. “I believe that at the end of this journey, the people in control will do the right thing.”
