Sabrina Voinea's Mother Sends Message to Romania After Olympic Controversy

Romanian gymnast Sabrina Voinea was one of the three athletes who were involved in what turned out to be a full-blown controversy at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This was after U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles was stripped of the bronze medal from the floor exercise final, which in turn, was awarded to Romanian Ana Barbosu.

Chiles was initially awarded the bronze medal after a successful challenge from her coach, Cecile Landi, which improved her final score by 0.100 points. Chiles finished with a 13.766 score, while Barbosu and Voinea settled for fourth and fifth, respectively after both scoring 13.700. Barbosu was ranked higher than Voinea because of a tiebreaker (higher execution score).

In an unprecedented turn of events, however, Chiles' challenge was subsequently revoked (the appeal apparently came four seconds too late). The American fell to fifth after 0.100 points were deducted from her score, thereby forcing her to give up the bronze medal. Barbosu was deemed the rightful third-place winner.

Now that the dust is finally settling on the controversy, Romania decided to honor their Olympic athletes for their achievement in the Paris Games. This included both Voinea and Barbosu, who received an Order of Sports Merit (Ordinul Meritul Sportiv) from the Romanian State.

Voinea's mother, Camelia Voinea, who herself is a Romanian gymnastics icon, took to social media to send a message to the state for the great honor her daughter was endowed with.

"Thank you for the gratitude of the Romanian state and Mr. President!" Camelia wrote on Facebook as translated by an AI tool.

Camelia, an Olympic silver medalist from the 1988 Seoul Games, also serves as Sabrina's coach. This is why this honor is something she shares with her daughter.

Camelia has also been very vocal about Sabrina's involvement in the bronze medal scandal in that they believe she is the rightful third-place winner. Voinea's score was also deducted by 0.100 points after a supposed violation during her routine (stepping out of bounds). Her camp is adamant, however, that she did not step out of the mat, and that her final score should stand at 13.800.

Had it not been for the deduction, Voinea would have finished with the bronze medal.

Voinea's camp has filed an official appeal concerning her final score but at the moment, it is still Barbosu who is recognized as the rightful winner of the bronze medal.

Whatever the case might be, what is clear is that both Voinea and Barbosu are held in very high esteem by their home nation.

Related: Olympics Icon Nadia Comaneci Reacts to Romanian Gymnastics' Sabrina Voinea Announcement

Related: U.S. Gymnastics Icon Samantha Peszek Reveals Major Disappointment in Jordan Chiles Controversy

Related: Father of Romanian Gymnast Shared Heartbreaking Post Amid Bronze Medal Appeal