Jordan Chiles has publicly addressed the contentious decision to revoke her bronze medal, expressing her deep dissatisfaction with the ruling. In a statement released Thursday, Chiles conveyed her sense of injustice over the matter, describing the situation as a profound disappointment for herself and her supporters.
“I am at a loss for words,” Chiles wrote. “This decision feels fundamentally unfair and represents a significant setback not only for me but for everyone who has supported my journey. To make matters worse, the unprovoked, racially motivated attacks on social media are deeply troubling and extremely painful.”
The controversy began last week when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced that Chiles’ coach had missed the deadline to request a review of her score during the floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Although the inquiry into the score was accepted and it was determined that Chiles had been scored too low, the CAS ruling ultimately upheld the original score, which dropped her from third place.
As a result of the ruling, Chiles’ bronze medal was rescinded and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has requested its return to reallocate it to Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu, who was deemed to have placed third in the event retroactively.
USA Gymnastics has voiced strong objections to the CAS decision, highlighting several procedural issues with the appeal process initiated by Romanian officials. They claimed that they were notified of the proceedings too late due to a mix-up with the CAS notification and thus were unable to adequately prepare their case. Additionally, USA Gymnastics presented time-stamped video evidence showing that Chiles’ coach submitted the inquiry within the required one-minute timeframe. Despite this, the CAS stated that its rules do not permit reconsideration of decisions, even with new evidence.
In response to the ruling, USA Gymnastics has committed to continuing their efforts to contest the decision on Chiles’ behalf.
Chiles expressed her gratitude to USA Gymnastics for their ongoing support, as well as to the many individuals who have shown her kindness and solidarity during this challenging time.
“I will face this adversity as I have faced other challenges,” Chiles wrote. “I am determined to ensure that justice prevails, and I trust that those in positions of authority will ultimately do what is right.”
