The gymnastics world was left stunned as Team USA’s Jordan Chiles, who had just celebrated her first individual Olympic bronze medal earlier this month, watched her hard-earned achievement slip away.

People on social media erupted in disbelief, calling the decision “unfair” and demanding justice for the talented athlete and all involved. Unfortunately, a fair resolution seems unlikely. Let’s explore what happened and why it sparked so much anger.

She’s Another American Gymnastics Marvel

Chiles has emerged as a powerhouse in the world of American gymnastics. Born in Tualatin, Oregon, she began her athletic journey at the age of six. Her natural agility and flexibility caught her mother’s eye, who set her on a path to become one of the sport’s brightest stars.

Her professional career highlights include winning silver in the all-around at the 2017 U.S. National Championships and securing gold on vault at the 2018 Pacific Rim Championships. Her move to Spring, Texas in 2019 to train at World Champions Centre under coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi proved pivotal in her development.

She gained widespread recognition as part of the silver medal-winning U.S. team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021). Her powerful vaulting and dynamic floor routines have become her trademark.

In 2024, Chiles continued to shine, contributing to the U.S. team’s gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics. But her rise to glory didn’t come without its share of obstacles and controversies.

She Took a Break from Gymnastics

In late 2017, Chiles found herself at a crossroads in her gymnastics career. Despite winning silver in the all-around at the national championships that year, she failed to make the U.S. team for the world championships.

This disappointment left her feeling unwanted by the sport she had dedicated her life to. Chiles asked her mother, Gina, to remove all her awards from her private space. “I don’t want them in my room anymore,” she said. This left her mother surprised and concerned.

Still, Gina didn’t push her daughter and followed her wishes. The following year, Chiles’ performance at the 2018 Nationals, where she finished 11th in the all-around, seemed to confirm her doubts.

She considered ending her gymnastics career altogether to focus on finishing high school and going to college instead. However, a conversation with Simone Biles would change the course of her life.

She Got the Support of the GOAT

Biles, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, stepped in to offer Chiles a lifeline. She suggested that Chiles move to Texas to train at her gym, World Champions Centre, in 2018.

The decision wasn’t easy, but Chiles knew it was the right choice. Still, before relocating, she focused on finishing high school. Once in Texas, the Landis took charge of preparing her for the 2020 Olympics, which wasn’t that far away.

Meanwhile, Biles’ support extended beyond training. After a challenging competition, she reassured Chiles and said, “You belong here.”

This encouragement and Chiles’ determination paid off. When Biles withdrew from competing at the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns, the younger gymnast stepped up and participated in events she hadn’t originally been slated for. Her performance helped the U.S. team secure a silver medal. But not everything was perfect afterward.

She Was Criticized for Her Appearance

Throughout her career, Chiles faced criticism that went beyond her athletic performance. She encountered body-shaming and racial discrimination, which left deep emotional scars.

She recalled instances where coaches suggested she shouldn’t lift weights or gain weight due to her muscular build. Her hair, thick and textured, was also criticized for being “too poufy.”

One particularly disturbing incident occurred when she was competing as a child. Chiles overheard a spectator saying, “She doesn’t deserve to be on the floor. She doesn’t even look like anybody else.”

That was only one example of the harsh treatment she had received. “I’ve gotten medals taken away from me. I’ve been told that my mom wasn’t my mom. I’ve gotten told that I wasn’t Black,” Chiles shared, showing the extent of the prejudice that many don’t realize occurs in the gymnastics world.

However, she has persevered despite the awful remarks and earned her spot among the world’s current best.

She Is a Member of the Golden Team in Paris

The 2024 Paris Olympics marked a triumphant moment for Team USA Gymnastics. Chiles, alongside Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera, secured the gold medal in the team competition.

Throughout the event, Team USA maintained their lead and showed their dominance across all four apparatuses: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor. Despite a setback when Chiles fell off the beam during her routine, the team’s overall performance was strong enough to secure the top spot.

However, the joy of this team’s victory would soon be overshadowed by a big dispute during the last part of the competition.

Her Paris Win Drew Controversy

During the floor exercise final, Chiles initially finished fifth, but she was elevated to third. This change came after her coach, Landi, successfully argued that Chiles’ difficulty score had been undercredited.

The officials agreed and changed her original score of 13.666 to 13.766. This boosted Chiles above two Romanian athletes, Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea.

However, this decision sparked immediate controversy. The Romanian delegation quickly contested the outcome. Their protest centered on the timing of Landi’s appeal, which was after the 60-second deadline stipulated by Olympic rules.

Furthermore, the situation escalated when the Romanian Sports Committee sent a formal letter of protest to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). The statement requested a re-evaluation of the challenge to Maneca-Voinea’s floor exercise score.

The committee argued that the refusal to fully explain the reasons for rejecting their initial challenge was damaging to international gymnastics. It was also harmful to the athletes’ mental health.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his decision to boycott the Olympics closing ceremony. In a strongly worded statement, he expressed his outrage at what he perceived as a “scandalous situation” in gymnastics and mentioned that Romanian athletes had faced similar past injustices.

She Was Stripped of Her Medal

As a result of the protests and after further review of the situation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Sunday, August 11, 2024, that Chiles must return her bronze medal in the floor exercise.

This decision came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld findings that Landi’s appeal should not have been allowed.

Therefore, they effectively reinstated the original results, with Romania’s Barbosu reclaiming the bronze medal position and Maneca-Voinea ending in fourth place.

In response to the CAS decision, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee swiftly announced their intention to file an appeal. They stated, “We firmly believe that Jordan rightfully earned the bronze medal, and there were critical errors in both the initial scoring by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the subsequent CAS appeal process that need to be addressed.”

USA Gymnastics also stood firmly behind Chiles. The organization stated that they had submitted time-stamped video evidence showing Landi filed the inquiry in 47 seconds, well within the one-minute window.

The footage provided was not available to USA Gymnastics before the tribunal’s decision, which is why this situation got so complicated. The problem is that everyone involved suffered deeply.

Her Happiness Was Ripped Away

The emotional toll of this controversy has been significant for Chiles. She was initially overjoyed at winning her first individual Olympic medal and described the moment as “surreal” as well as a source of immense pride.

However, as news of the medal being revoked spread, her reaction reflected more than disappointment and frustration. It brought back all the criticism she had faced before.

The athlete took to social media and wrote, “It’s funny how people can still never be happy for someone [sic]…”

Her mother also spoke out against the persistent unfairness in sports and from fans. “The racist disgusting comments are still happening in 2024,” she wrote on X. “I’m tired of people who say it no longer exists. My daughter is a highly decorated Olympian with the biggest heart and a level of sportsmanship that is unmatched…and she’s being called disgusting things.”

Immediately, support from teammates and fellow athletes started pouring in for Chiles. Biles shared a message of encouragement on her Instagram stories:

“Sending so much love Jordan! Keep your head up, Olympic champ! We love you!”

Even Barbosu expressed empathy for Chiles’ situation. In a heartfelt Instagram story, she addressed both Chiles and her Romanian teammate Maneca-Voinea.

“Jordan, my thoughts are with you. I know what you are feeling because I’ve been through the same. But I know you’ll come back stronger,” she wrote. “I hope from deep of my heart that at the next Olympics, all three of us will share [the] same podium. This is my true dream!”

The bronze medalist continued, “This situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation. We, athletes, are not to be blamed, and the hate directed to us is painful.”

Despite these encouraging messages, some of the negativity online continued. Therefore, Chiles announced her decision to take a break from social media for her mental health. She posted a statement on Instagram stories saying, “I’m taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health thank you [sic].”

Unfortunately, it looks like someone else is currently celebrating their win.

Barbosu Got The Medal

In the meantime, Chiles’s Romanian rival received the Olympic bronze medal for the floor exercise on Friday, August 16 during a ceremony in Bucharest, Romania. During the event, Barbosu addressed the other gymnasts involved in this controversy.

“At this moment, I can’t help but think of Sabrina and Jordan. It’s a difficult situation for us, with so many uncertainties and overwhelming emotions,” she said. “I hope everyone understands that we did nothing wrong at the Olympic Games. And that the Olympic spirit is more important than any misunderstanding between authorities.”

The gymnast also hoped for the best for her fellow competitors. “I want to believe that the day will come when all three of us will receive a bronze medal,” Barbosu added.

The Romanian Federation of Gymnastics shared the event on Instagram. Barbosu received her prize from Octavian Morariu, a member of the IOC, following Olympic protocol.

Meanwhile, the Romanian Prime Minister presented the athlete with a bouquet during the ceremony. “Justice has been done in awarding the medals!” he expressed.

But while some people are happy about this decision, many online fans aren’t, and they’re not afraid to call out the unfairness.

Users Have Reacted to the Controversy

The decision to strip Chiles of her medal caused intense reactions from fans and observers worldwide. The general feeling was outrage for both the US gymnast and Barbosu.

One user wrote, “Heartbreaking. Jordan deserves a medal [sic].” Another commented, “If the judges did their jobs correctly this would not have happened! Unfair to all [sic].“

Many called for both Chiles and Barbosu to receive bronze medals. As one user pleaded, “THAT IS SO CRUEL! If anything, give both of them a bronze medal. At this point, don’t just take the one away from Jordan. That’s just wrong!💔 [sic].” This sentiment was echoed by another who simply stated, “Give them all a Bronze Medal That’s the right thing to do [sic].“

Critics of the decision pointed out the inconsistency in the application of rules. One user argued, “Both gymnasts deserve the medal! If Jordan’s coach filed the appeal 4 seconds late, then the judge needs to be reprimanded. Romania filed their appeal 1 week late. Completely unfair [sic]!“

Some users expressed what they would do in the other athlete’s shoes. One commented, “I wouldn’t even want that bronze medal after all this. Jordan had the higher score. Like why would you want it if your score was actually lower than Jordan’s? Idc about the 4 seconds. That’s how 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are awarded, highest to lowest score. Idk yea I wouldn’t even want it lol [sic].“

Others focused on the broader implications for the sport. A user wrote, “This was a colossal failure on the part of the judges. This mess affirmed to the athlete’s they can not trust the system, even in the highest competition of their sport. There is NO room for error. In a sport where athletes aim for perfection, the scrutiny for judges should be no less. No excuses, unacceptable. Do better [sic].“

Some users took the opportunity to express support for Chiles directly. One comment read, “Terrible decision. Both should receive medals. Jordan Chiles – you are amazingly talented and bring so much joy to the sport of gymnastics [sic]!“

However, not all reactions were negative towards the decision. A small minority expressed support for the outcome, with one user simply stating, “good. romania deserves the win [sic].”

The US Appeal Was Rejected

Unfortunately, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has denied Chiles’ appeal to reinstate her Olympic bronze medal despite the time-stamped video evidence. USA Gymnastics is profoundly disappointed by this decision and remains committed to exploring every available legal option to ensure a fair outcome for the athlete, including appealing to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

As USA Gymnastics eloquently stated, “We will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process… to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan.”

What began as a moment of triumph for the American gymnast quickly devolved into a dispute involving athletes, coaches, sports governing bodies, and even political figures.

The decision to revoke Chiles’ medal based on a four-second delay in an inquiry submission has raised serious questions about the fairness and consistency of Olympic judging and the appeal processes.

What’s more, this incident has not only affected Chiles personally but has also sparked a broader conversation about the treatment of athletes, the impact of such decisions on their mental health, and the need for greater transparency in elite sports.

Fortunately, the outpour of support for Chiles from fans, fellow athletes, and even her competitors demonstrates the gymnastics community’s strong sense of solidarity in the face of perceived injustice.

For now, only time will tell if Team USA will manage to raise this issue with a higher authority and give Chiles her medal back or come to a resolution that satisfies those involved.