American gymnast Jordan Chiles remains in possession of her bronze medal in the women's floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics despite a ruling by the Court of Arbitration (CAS) that restored the podium to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu. Team USA plans to pursue an appeal, and Chiles has no current plans to return the medal.
In a controversial turn of events, American gymnast Jordan Chiles has decided to retain her bronze medal in the women's floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, even after a ruling from the Court of Arbitration (CAS) stripped her of the title and restored it to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu. Team USA, which initially appealed Chiles' score and pushed her into medal contention, plans to pursue further legal action.
Jordan Chiles Retains Bronze Medal Despite Ruling Against Her by Court of Arbitration
Chiles, a two-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist, initially finished fifth in the eight-woman final. However, Team USA coach Cecile Landi appealed her score, arguing that she should receive credit for a maneuver that would boost her score by 0.1. The appeal was granted, and Chiles moved onto the podium, replacing Barbosu.
Romania protested the decision to the CAS, arguing that the appeal was not made within the permitted one-minute time frame. The appeal was successful, and on Friday, Barbosu was awarded the bronze medal.
Jordan Chiles Retains Bronze Medal Despite Ruling Against Her by Court of Arbitration
Despite the ruling, Chiles has no plans to return her hardware. According to reports, she remains in possession of the medal in the United States. USA Today's Christine Brennan reported that Chiles is planning to appeal the decision, citing "significant procedural errors" by CAS. The appeal would presumably go to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
Chiles has expressed frustration with the decision, calling it "unjust." Romania's appeal accused Team USA of appealing Chiles' score four seconds past the deadline. However, USA Gymnastics argues that Landi's appeal came 13 seconds before the deadline and claims to have video evidence to support this claim.
Jordan Chiles Retains Bronze Medal Despite Ruling Against Her by Court of Arbitration
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The controversy has raised questions about the fairness of the scoring system in gymnastics and the role of coaching in influencing the results. It is unclear how the situation will ultimately resolve, but Chiles' decision to retain her medal despite the ruling adds another layer of complexity to this ongoing saga.
Jordan Chiles Retains Bronze Medal Despite Ruling Against Her by Court of Arbitration
In the meantime, Barbosu has expressed sympathy for Chiles, acknowledging the challenges and pressures of Olympic competition. The Romanian gymnast has stated that she understands Chiles' frustration and hopes that a resolution can be found that is fair to both athletes.
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee has also expressed support for Chiles and said it will provide all necessary assistance in pursuing the appeal. The outcome of this case will likely have implications for future Olympic gymnastics competitions and the interpretation of the rules and regulations governing the sport.
