American gymnast Jordan Chiles has been stripped of her bronze medal in the Paris Olympics floor exercise after the International Olympic Committee determined that her score was improperly judged. The medal is now being reallocated to Romanian Ana Barbosu.
The controversy arose after the Center Arbitration for Sport (CAS) voided Chiles’ score due to a technicality in the timing of the appeal made by her coach. This decision pushed Chiles down to fifth place with a new score, allowing Barbosu to claim the bronze medal.
Chiles expressed her devastation upon learning of the CAS ruling and announced that she would be taking a break from social media. She received support from her teammates, including Simone Biles and Suni Lee, who criticized the judges for the situation.
USA Gymnastics stated that they were devastated by the decision and that they had filed the appeal in good faith to ensure accurate scoring. The organization is now in contact with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee regarding the return of the medal.
The IOC’s decision has sparked outrage among fans and athletes alike, with many questioning the fairness of the judging process in gymnastics. The controversy serves as a reminder of the high stakes and intense scrutiny faced by Olympic athletes.
