Jordan Chiles might be in danger of losing the bronze medal she won in the floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Olympics after her score was overturned by a review board.
The Tribunal Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Saturday reverted the 23-year-old gymnast’s score from 13.766 to 13.666 after the Romanian team appealed to the review board, arguing that the judges in Monday’s floor exercise shouldn’t have allowed the score review because Chiles’ coach requested it four seconds after the one-minute window elapsed.
The CAS agreed with the Romanian team and ruled Chiles’ final score in the floor exercise will go back to the initial score of 13.666. Chiles’ coach on Monday had requested a difficulty score review, and the judges panel concluded that she was not properly credited for her skill routine. The initial 13.666 score had her in fifth place and off the podium, but the score review later boosted her up to 13.766 and into third, knocking Romania’s Ana Bărbosu’s 13.700 off the podium for the bronze medal. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade took gold and Simone Biles took silver.
But while the CAS can settle disputes about Olympic rules it can’t force the removal of medals. That would be up to the International Gymnastics Federation to decide if it’ll strip Chiles of the bronze medal and reward it to Bărbosu.
Following the CAS ruling, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee released a joint statement slamming the decision.
“We are devastated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling regarding women’s floor exercise. The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring,” the statement read. “Throughout the appeal process, Jordan has been subject to consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks on social media. No athlete should be subject to such treatment. We condemn the attacks and those who engage, support or instigate them. We commend Jordan for conducting herself with integrity both on and off the competition floor, and we continue to stand by and support her.”
Chiles also took to her Instagram Story and posted three heartbreak emojis. In a subsequent Story she wrote, “I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health thank you.”
Chiles, in all likely hood set to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, earned a gold medal as part of Team USA winning the all-around competition.
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