Jordan Chiles has finally broken her silence after the heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat drama of having her bronze medal yanked from her grasp. Yep, the one she snagged during the 2024 Olympics in that gravity-defying women’s gymnastics floor extravaganza.
So, picture this: just this past weekend, news broke that Jordan’s shiny bronze medal was being swiped from her and handed over to Romania’s Ana Barbosu. Why? Because the International Gymnastics Federation had a plot twist of its own, following a dramatic decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Apparently, the Romanian Olympic Committee decided to challenge Jordan’s score, and the US team’s appeal about the timing of that challenge was, oh, just a smidge too late. Jordan’s original score was reinstated, so instead of the coveted third place, she now lands in a perfectly respectable fifth.
Let’s rewind a bit. Jordan initially scored 13.666—spooky number, right?—which put her in fifth place. Ana Barbosu, on the other hand, scored a teensy bit higher at 13.7, making her think she was a bronze medalist. But then, Jordan’s coach, Cecile Landi, thought, “Hey, let’s challenge this!” and pushed for a review of Jordan’s difficulty rating. Miraculously, Jordan’s score got a little boost to 13.766, rocketing her into third place. Cue confetti and applause!
But hold your applause. USA Gymnastics, in a bid to cling to that medal like it’s the last donut in the box, tried to appeal. The CAS, however, had the emotional range of a marble and refused to listen.
So, in the grand tradition of “life’s not fair,” Jordan Chiles finally released her statement on the matter. Here’s what she had to say:
I am overwhelmed by the love I have received over the past few days. I am also incredibly grateful to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, USAG, and the USOPC for their unwavering support during this difficult time. While celebrating my Olympic accomplishments, I heard the devastating news that my bronze medal had been stripped away. I had confidence in the appeal brought by USAG, who gave conclusive evidence that my score followed all the rules. This appeal was unsuccessful.
I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey. To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country.
I will never waver from my values of competing with integrity, striving for excellence, upholding the values of sportsmanship and the rules that dictate fairness. I have taken pride in cheering on everyone regardless of team or country. Finding joy again has been a culture shift and I love seeing others embrace it. I feel like I have given everyone permission to be authentic to who they are.
I am now confronted with one of the most challenging moments of my career. Believe me when I say I have had many. I will approach this challenge as I have others – and will make every effort to ensure that justice is done. I believe that at the end of this journey, the people in control will do the right thing.