Jordan Chiles Breaks Down in Tears During First Interview Since Olympics

Over the past several weeks, Gymnast Jordan Chiles, who played a crucial role in helping Team USA win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has put on a brave face.

Following the devastating turn of events in which the bronze medal she won during the individual floor final was stripped away, Chiles appeared to put the drama behind her as she happily threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Mets game and made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week.

However, during an appearance at Forbes Power Women's Summit on September 11, her first interview since the Olympics, Chiles shared raw emotion over the situation. Following a highly controversial ruling by the Court of Arbitration (CAS), the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to reverse Chiles' score and award her bronze medal to Romania's Ana Barbosu.

The 23-year-old fought through tears while describing the fallout of the heartbreaking experience in front of a live audience.

"The biggest thing that was taken from me was that it was the recognition of who I was," Chiles said. "Not just my sport, but the person I am. To me, everything that has gone on is not about the medal, it's about my skin color."

"I felt like when I was back in 2018 where I did lose the love of the sport, I lost it again. I just felt like there wasn't a lot of people supporting me... I felt I was really left in the dark."

As for what led to her near breakup with gymnastics six years ago, "I was in a situation of dealing with a coach who emotionally and verbally abused me," Chiles said. "I didn't have the ability to use my voice of be heard."

Now, Chiles is making sure her voice is heard. "I made history and I'll always continue to make history and something that I rightfully did. I followed the rules, my coach followed the rules," she said of Team USA coach Cecile Landi , who successfully contested the difficulty level of her score after it was recorded incorrectly.

"We did everything that was totally, completely right."

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