Jordan Chiles Breaks Silence On Bronze Medal Being Stripped: ‘This Decision Feels Unjust’
Jordan Chiles Breaks Silence On Bronze Medal Being Stripped: ‘This Decision Feels Unjust’
Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles has issued her first statement about her bronze medal being stripped. In a post shared online with her followers, Jordan Chiles, 23, wrote,
“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.”
As previously reported, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of two Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who took issue with the time Jordan Chiles’ score was changed to properly reflect the difficulty level of her floor final. The correct score placed Chiles in third, initially earning her a bronze medal, and pushed the Romanian gymnasts into fourth and fifth place.
However, following an appeal from The Romanian Gymnastics Federation, which argued Chiles’ coach submitted the score inquiry four seconds late, the medal was reallocated to Barbosu. USA Gymnastics appealed the ruling, providing evidence that Chiles’ coach was within the allotted time requirement, however, CAS still denied the filing. At the time of this report, USA Gymnastics is still working to rectify the issue and get justice for Chiles.
Continuing her statement on the unfortunate matter, Chiles wrote,
“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.”
And continued,
“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.”
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