In a shocking and emotional twist, American gymnast Jordan Chiles has been stripped of the bronze medal she earned in Monday’s women’s floor final, following a controversial ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) confirmed that Romania’s Ana Barbosu, who had initially placed fourth, has now been awarded the bronze after CAS upheld an appeal by the Romanian Olympic Committee.
The dispute arose when Chiles’ score was upgraded following an inquiry by her coach, Cecile Landi, regarding her difficulty rating. The adjustment briefly placed Chiles in third, bumping Barbosu to fourth. However, the Romanian team protested, arguing that the inquiry had been submitted just four seconds past the one-minute deadline. The CAS ruling reinstated Chiles’ original score, pushing her back to fifth and restoring Barbosu to the podium.
The decision has left USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee “devastated,” as they condemned the “consistent, utterly baseless, and extremely hurtful attacks” Chiles has faced on social media throughout the appeal process. Chiles, who previously won gold in the women’s team event, expressed her heartbreak by posting four broken heart emojis on her Instagram story before announcing a break from social media for her mental health.
The Romanian Olympic Committee celebrated the ruling, while Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu had earlier called the situation “scandalous” and threatened to boycott the closing ceremony if justice wasn’t served. As the gymnastics world grapples with the fallout, Chiles’ teammate Simone Biles and other athletes have rallied around her, praising her resilience and condemning the harsh online criticism.
The International Olympic Committee will now reallocate the bronze medal to Barbosu and is working with both the US and Romanian teams to arrange the reallocation ceremony. Despite the controversy, Chiles has been lauded for her grace under pressure, with Biles and fellow US gymnast Sunisa Lee publicly voicing their support.
The incident has cast a shadow over what was otherwise a historic and joyous competition, highlighting the intense scrutiny and pressure faced by elite athletes on the global stage.
