Ex-USA Gymnast Clears the Air About Jordan Chiles Refusing to Give Back Bronze Medal

The question of whether or not USA Gymnast Jordan Chiles still has the Olympic bronze medal that she won at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was stripped from her by the International Olympic Committee has finally been answered.

USA Today’s Christine Brennan reported nearly two weeks ago that Chiles was still in possession of the medal and had no plans to give it back; however, in an exclusive interview with E! News, former USA gymnast Laurie Hernandez confirmed that Chiles had, in fact, returned the medal to the IOC.

“I've reached out a bit,” Hernandez said . “I think she's just feeling a lot of heartbreak. There’s no words for it. It’s a really messy situation.

“…So Jordan did have to give that medal back, and Romania won that bronze once again. It's heartbreaking. And all of this is done in the public eye. My heart goes out to Jordan because it's not her fault by any means. It's not her coach's fault by any means. It's not the judge's fault.”

Though Chiles isn’t in physical possession of the medal anymore, there’s still a chance she could get it back, legally.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee is currently appealing to the Swiss Federal Tribunal —Switzerland’s Supreme Court, and the only one that can overrule a decision by the Court of Arbitration in Sport, which nullified the score inquiry that won Chiles the bronze medal in the first place.

Meanwhile, Chiles herself seems to be remerging in the public eye after taking a two-week long social media hiatus. She posted an Instagram story on Monday at the World Champions Centre in Texas, seemingly indicating she’s training for the Gold Over America Tour with her USA Gymnastics teammates.

Related: FIG President Makes Incriminating Admission About Jordan Chiles Controversy

Related: Romanian Gymnast’s Mother Calls for Appeal After FIG President’s Jordan Chiles Apology