Team USA's Jordan Chiles asked to return Paris 2024 bronze in crushing blow

American gymnast Jordan Chiles has been asked to return the Olympic bronze medal she won in the Paris 2024 floor exercise finals. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) made this decision after nullifying an inquiry that had elevated the American onto the podium .

Chiles found herself in a controversy over her Olympic medal after securing bronze in the individual floor exercise. The 23-year-old's initial fifth place was upgraded to third following a successful appeal from her team.

Ana Barbosu of Romania had already started celebrating what she believed to be her bronze medal , waving the Romanian flag in jubilation. However, moments later, she was left devastated as she was pushed off the podium and saw her Olympic dream taken away.

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The on-floor appeal by US coach Cecile Landi, which moved Chiles ahead of Barbosu onto the podium, came under scrutiny . The request to add .1 to Chiles' score was approved.

However, a CAS ruling is set to restore the 18-year-old's original position. CAS ruled on Saturday that Landi's appeal fell outside the one-minute window allowed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

The committee noted that Landi's appeal came one minute and four seconds after the score was posted.

Chiles has been told to return her gymnastics medal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided that the original scores should stand, meaning she drops back to fifth place and Romania's Barbosu's team-mate Sabrina Maneca-Voinea is bumped up to fourth.

The International Olympic Committee released a statement stating: "We are in touch with the [National Olympic Committee] of Romania to discuss the reallocation ceremony and with [U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee] regarding the return of the bronze medal".

Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Chiles shared three broken heart emojis and declared a social media hiatus for the sake of her mental health, stating: "I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you."

Her fellow gymnast and American icon Simone Biles showed her support online, sharing heartfelt encouragement: "Sending you so much love Jordan. Keep your chin up Olympic champ! We love you! " Biles expressed on Instagram.

Chiles has made her way back to the US, stopping by the NASDAQ stock exchange and the Today Show as part of her American press tour, before flaunting her medals at UCLA, where she will compete for Bruins from 2025. She bagged a gold in the team exercise earlier in the Games alongside Biles, Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee and Hezly Rivera.