Excitement, applause, and shock was what August 5th brought to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
It was routines from 8 talented women during the individual floor finals that marked the last performances for Artistic Gymnastics.
Romanian gymnast, Ana Barbosu, was third to perform; her routine artistic and strong. Her score, 13.700 was tied with team mate, Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. Although, Ana's execution score was higher, which set her above Sabrina. A podium finish was looking promising.
Ana Barbosu performance at individual floor finals. Source: AP Photo / Charlie Riedel
USA representative, Jordan Chiles, was last to perform. Despite contributing to the win of her team's recent gold, floor was the only finals Chiles qualified for.
With anticipation high and cheers loud amongst the crowd, Chiles's performance was led with confidence and strength. Her score was announced, 13.666, just shy of a podium finish. This score put Chiles in fifth place, behind Romanian team mates Ana and Sabrina.
Jordan Chiles performs for individual floor finals. Source: Getty Images
Whilst Rebeca Andrade (placing first), Simone Biles (placing second), and Ana Barbosu (placing third) celebrated their podium success with surrounding friends and family, U.S coach, Cecile Landi, was filing an inquiry to the judges.
Her inquiry was to appeal Jordan's difficulty score, in hopes of raising it from a C to a D. She argued that Chiles had not been given full credit for a tour jete.
Whilst Ana Barbosu held the Romanian flag with pride, the judges were reviewing the recent appeal.
Soon, the screen flashed with Chiles' new score, 13.766, her original score being raised by 1/10th of a point. The appeal was successful.
Chiles embraces Landi. Source: Tim Clayton / Corbis / Getty Images
Barbosu looked visibly distressed as she lowered her country's flag and held her stomach in shock.
Simone Biles engulfed her team mate, Chiles, in a warm embrace to congratulate her team mate for finishing on the podium with her.
And that podium presentation sparked headlines worldwide. The focus shifting from Ana's stripped bronze, to now history, as these medal winners mark the first ever black podium finish in Olympic history.
Biles (left) and Chiles (right) bow to gold medalist Andrade (middle) during podium presentation. Source / AP Photo/Abbie Parr
But it was just days after our Olympians medal high that an announcement was made; Chiles may be stripped from her bronze medal.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the judging panel of the individual floor final made a mistake in accepting the appeal filed by U.S coach, Cecile Landie.
Jordan responded to the headlines, taking to Instagram to post two separate stories expressing how she's heartbroken and will be removing herself from social media for her mental health.
So what happened? Why is Chiles being stripped of her bronze?
Well, The Romanian Gymnastics Federation challenged the timing of the inquiry, stating it was filed four seconds beyond the one minute deadline. The FIG (The Federation of International Gymnastics) and IOC (International Olympic Committee) have both confirmed the decision, which has generated significant controversy.
U.S. officials provided a time-stamped video showing the U.S. appeal of Chiles’s score was filed 47 seconds after her score was given. This is within the one-minute deadline. CAS said it could not re-open the case despite the conclusive video evidence.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is considering further legal action, possibly appealing to higher courts.
In the midst of this controversy, U.S. and Romanian officials offered to give both Chiles and Barbosu bronze medals, but FIG refused. Now, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee is moving ahead on its own.
It's official...
The International Olympic committee gave the go ahead to Romanian officials to award Romanian gymnast, Ana Barbosu the bronze medal in a ceremony. One day later (Aug 16), in Bucharest, Romania, Mihai Covaliu, the president of the Romanian Olympic committee awarded Ana with her bronze. Romanian president Marcel Ciolacu was also in attendance.
Ana receives her gold medal during ceremony. Source: AP / Vadim Ghirda
Ana addressed Jordan during the ceremony speaking, "I want to believe that the day will come when all three of us will receive a bronze medal."
Chiles has since released a statement on X, expressing her sadness and how this decision feels 'unjust.'
Some say that Ana and Jordan should've shared a bronze medal, with others agreeing with Chiles's statement regarding the unjust decision. Romanian gymnast and former Olympic champion, Nadia Comaneci, took to X to stating how 'we need to protect young gymnasts.'
What do you think of this situation? We'd love to hear your thoughts by commenting below.
