UCLA Athletics News: Jordan Chiles Gifted Bronze Award After Olympic Disqualification

Jordan Chiles, a standout gymnast from UCLA , recently received a heartwarming gesture after her difficult experience at the 2024 Paris Olympics. After being stripped of her bronze medal, rapper Flavor Flav gifted Chiles a bronze clock necklace during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. Flav, known for his energetic personality, presented the gift with a heartfelt message: "I know they tried to take your medal away from you, but you know what? I got you something that they can't take away from you."

"Wow. I don't even know what to say here," a surprised Chiles replied.

Initially, Chiles placed fifth in the Olympic floor final. However, after her coach's successful appeal, she was temporarily bumped up to third place, earning a bronze medal thanks to a scoring adjustment that added 0.100 points. Unfortunately, the International Gymnastics Federation later reversed the decision, stating that her appeal had been submitted too late. As a result, the bronze was awarded to Romania's Ana Barbosu.

Chiles expressed deep disappointment over the reversal, noting how the experience impacted her sense of self. “The biggest thing that was taken from me was the recognition of who I was, not just my sport, but the person I am,” Chiles said. Speaking at the Forbes Power Women's Summit, she expanded on the emotional toll, emphasizing that it wasn’t just about the medal, but about the broader issue of recognition, particularly as a Black athlete. “It’s about my skin color,” she said, highlighting the challenges of representation in the sports world.

Despite this setback, Chiles had already achieved significant success in Paris, winning a gold medal with Team USA in the women's team final. Her journey underscores the complexities athletes face, from scoring disputes to societal challenges, and highlights the importance of recognition and support from the community, ensuring their stories are heard and celebrated.

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Going Deeper

1. Si.com: Jordan Chiles Gifted Bronze Clock
2. Reddit Pop Culture Chat Discussion
3. Reddit Olympics Discussion
4. Gymnaverse Community Forum
5. USA Today Coverage