Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles has been instructed to return her Olympic bronze medal she secured during the Paris 2024 floor exercise finals . The decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport follows an invalidated inquiry that propelled 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 saw her initial fifth place position elevated to third following a successful appeal from her team.
Barbosu had already started celebrating what she believed was her bronze medal victory, proudly waving the Romanian flag in celebration. However, moments later, she was left devastated as she was bumped off the podium, watching her Olympic medal dream slip away.
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However, the on-floor appeal by US coach Cecile Landi, which catapulted Chiles onto the podium ahead of Romania's Ana Barbosu, came under scrutiny. The request to add .1 to Chiles' score was approved, reports the Express US .
But a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport is set to restore the teenager's original position. CAS ruled on Saturday that the appeal by Landi fell outside the permitted one minute window allowed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) with the committee noting that Landi's appeal came one minute and four seconds after the score was posted.
Chiles' score will revert to the initial 13.666, and she is being asked to give back her medal after CAS recommended that the original positions be restored. She'll move back to fifth place while Barbosu's teammate Sabrina Maneca-Voinea is adjusted to fourth.
The International Olympic Committee stated: "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".
Upon hearing the decision on Saturday, Chiles expressed her sadness on Instagram with three broken heart emojis and mentioned taking a breather from social media for her well-being: "I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you."
Next to Chiles on the podium was Simone Biles, who took silver, while Brazil's Rebeca Andrade claimed gold. Biles showed her support for Chiles amidst the confusion, writing on Instagram: "Sending you so much love Jordan. Keep your chin up Olympic champ! We love you! ".
Chiles has made her way back to the US, making appearances at the NASDAQ stock exchange and the Today Show as part of her press tour. She also proudly displayed her medals at UCLA, where she is set to compete for the Bruins starting in 2025.
Earlier in the Games, she clinched gold in the team exercise alongside teammates Biles, Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee, and Hezly Rivera.
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