Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles is facing the prospect of having to return her bronze medal from the Paris Olympics following a recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The decision, announced on August 10, invalidates the adjusted scoring that had previously elevated Chiles’ standing.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has now directed that the bronze medal be reallocated to Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu, pending further arrangements with the Romanian National Olympic Committee (NOC) and discussions with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
Initially, Chiles had been awarded the bronze medal in the women’s floor exercise final on August 5, after her score was adjusted from 13.666 to 13.766. This change came as a result of an appeal by her coach, Cecile Landi, who sought a review of the difficulty value of Chiles’ routine.
Despite this adjustment placing Chiles in third place, ahead of Bărbosu, the Court has now reversed this decision. CAS ruled that Landi’s appeal was submitted after the one-minute deadline, thus rendering the revised score invalid.
The USOPC has announced its intention to appeal the CAS ruling. The committee believes that there were significant errors in both the initial scoring and the CAS review process, which they argue undermined Chiles’ rightful claim to the medal. They remain committed to supporting Chiles and are determined to pursue an appeal to ensure she receives the recognition they believe she deserves.
Chiles’ response to the decision has been one of distress. She expressed her emotional reaction on Instagram, indicating her intent to step away from social media for mental health reasons. Her post reflected the personal impact of the ruling, highlighting the intense pressure and scrutiny she faces amid this controversy.
The situation remains fluid, as it is still unclear how the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) will ultimately address the medal distribution. While CAS has mandated that the original rankings be reinstated, FIG is expected to release a formal statement regarding the final allocation of medals. This uncertainty leaves Chiles’ bronze medal status in question, with the potential for further developments in the coming days.
