Jordan Chiles breaks silence since being stripped of Olympic bronze medal
Topics: Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, Olympics, Sport, News
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Naomi Baker/Getty Images
Topics: Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, Olympics, Sport, News
After the bronze medal Jordan Chiles won in the 2024 Paris Olympics was stripped from her grip, her ‘devastation’ is understandable.
The Team USA gymnast was initially awarded fifth place in the the women's artistic gymnastics individual floor finals, but was bumped up to third after a Team USA coach, Cecile Landi argued about her score.
However, it wasn’t a long-lived glory for Chiles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The US gymnast’s victory was short-lived after another contest about her score was made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), who ruled the appeal had been made too late in the game.
Advert
This therefore meant Chiles' bronze medal was stripped from her and instead given to Romania's Ana Bărbosu, who initially had been awarded it before Team USA's intervention.
This led to a disagreement about whether the US or Romanian Olympic teams get to take the bronze.
Really, it’s now a choice between Ana-Maria Bărbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea on the Romanian team, or Jordan Chiles.
It came after an appeal from her coach Cecile Landi which increased her difficulty rating.
But the Romanian Olympic Committee claimed that Landi's appeal was lodged more than one minute after the score was declared, so it doesn’t.
The Romanian Gymnastics Federation weighed in on the matter with a proposal to split the bronze medal three ways as a way to resolve the dispute.
But will it be accepted?
Understandably, Chiles chose to step away from social media after her crushing loss and cited that it was all for her ‘mental health’.
However, in her first statement since the decision, she has gone on to detail the ‘racially driven attacks’ she has been victim to since the ruling and called the decision to strip her medal, ‘unjust’.
In her post to Instagram, she explained: “I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey.
“To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful. I've poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am proud to represent my culture and country.”
The gymnast continued: “I will never waver from my values of competing with integrity, striving for excellence, upholding the values of sportsmanship and the rules that dictate fairness.
“I have taken pride in cheering on everyone regardless of team or country. Finding joy again has been a culture shift and I love seeing others embrace it. I feel like I have given everyone permission to be authentic to who they are.”
She added that she is in a difficult spot right now in her career as a gymnast.
Chiles ended her statement by saying: “I am now confronted with one of the most challenging moments of my career. Believes me when I have I have had many. I will approach this challenge as I have others - and will make every effort to ensure that justice is done. I believe that at the end of this journey, the people in control will do the right thing.”
However, she has had a band of support surrounding her since her medal was taken from her, namely from her teammate Simone Biles, who was seen comforting her at the time of her losing the medal.
Her Team USA crew, are also on hand to lift her up and they commented words of encouragement under her post, writing: “The medal is bronze, but your heart is gold & NO ONE can take that away. We’re with you until the end.”
Another team, the UCLA Gymnastics added: “We love you, Jo, and we have your back always!”
Even Instagram itself wrote: “Always proud of you!”
When there is a loss, there’s always a win not too far behind.