This is sad. Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles has now finally lost her bronze medal after a ruling by CAS. It was announced on 12 August 2024. Now, the whole USA Gymnastics community along with the fans are devastated by this verdict. Following the announcement of the women’s floor exercise final on August 5, 2024, Chiles was initially awarded a medal that now has been revoked with new evidence and further appeal.
The Controversial Outcome: How Jordan Chiles Lost Her Medal
The Preliminary Competition and the Difference in Scoring
Jordan Chiles is an American 23-year-old gymnast who placed fifth in the women’s individual floor exercise final, finishing behind Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. Chiles scored 13.666 for her routine, while the Romanian gymnasts became co-second-place winners with 13.700.
Coaches from Chiles, however, headed by Cecile Landi, noticed an error in the scoring. They said that Chiles’ routine undervalued execution and particularly difficulty, stating Chiles deserved more for a leap where she does a split in the air while turning 540 degrees. After reviewing, the judges accepted the appeal from Landi and raised the score of Chiles to 13.766, placing her in third place.
This was no small revision, not just to Chiles, but for the sport of gymnastics itself. On August 5, 2024, Chiles found herself on the first all-Black podium in gymnastics history, along with gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil and silver medalist Simone Biles from Team USA.
The Challenge and CAS’s Ruling
But Chiles’ victory celebration became short-lived. CAS announced a decision on August 10, 2024, in favor of a challenge filed by Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. The Romanian gymnasts insisted that Chiles should be stripped of her bronze medal because their coaches’ challenge to Chiles’ initial score was submitted four seconds after the allowable time limit.
That CAS decision proved to be the nail in the coffin for Chiles, who had won her first individual Olympic medal. The USOPC did everything possible to fight that ruling in the CAS, including submitting video evidence that would prove the timeliness of Landi’s challenge, but all was in vain as the CAS sustained its decision.
The Final Verdict and the Reaction of USA Gymnastics
USA Gymnastics announced that CAS had refused them leave to appeal for Chiles’ bronze medal reinstatement on 12 August 2024. In a statement shared on social media, it declared that it is very saddened by the event and pledged to continue the pursuit of justice in every available avenue.
“USA Gymnastics was informed on Monday that the rules of CAS do not provide for an arbitral award to be reconsidered when conclusive new evidence is presented,” the statement read. “We are extremely disappointed to learn of this notification and will pursue every avenue and appeal process available, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure a fair scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan.”
The fact of the matter is that as it stands, Ana Barbosu will be the lone gymnast getting the bronze medal, while Jordan Chiles will not be awarded the medal she earned on the competition floor.
The Impact of this Decision: A Direct Blow to Jordan Chiles and Team USA
Emotional Toll and Professional Impact on Jordan Chiles
For Jordan Chiles, this CAS decision certainly represents an emotional and professional setback. An Olympic medal symbolizes years of hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifices. Having that taken away by a technicality when one has performed at medal-winning level is devastating.
This also dampens what should have been a historic moment for gymnastics: Chiles missing the bronze medal. The all-Black podium on August 5, 2024, was a prideful expression of diversity and excellence in gymnastics. The CAS decision has marred that moment. It’s disheartening to even the most uninvolved person, not just within the gymnastics community but beyond.
Reactions from the Gymnastics Community
Jordan Chiles has seen most of the gymnastics community rally behind her in anger and disappointment at the CAS ruling. The ruling is heavily being criticized by many, being very rigid and unfair, and especially since the focus should be more on the performance of the athletes and not on technicalities around the timing of challenges.
Former Olympic gymnast and athlete rights advocate Aly Raisman described the decision as “cruel” and “heartbreaking.” Raisman, one of the most outspoken supporters of Chiles, says the ruling shortchanges the integrity of the sport and true competition for fair play.
Path Ahead: To Continue the Fight for Justice
USA Gymnastics, however, has refused to give up on Jordan Chiles’ case. The organization has resolved to continue exploring all available legal avenues, including appealing to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, in hopes of overturning the CAS decision and reinstating Chiles’ bronze medal.
The battle, however, may be far from over for Chiles and her supporters. The road ahead may be very challenging, yet somehow there is hope that justice will come out at the very end, and Chiles’ outstanding performance on the world stage is recognized.
Jordan Chiles Net Worth
Jordan’s estimated net worth is $1.5 million, according to estimates. Jordan will undoubtedly see an increase in her net worth due to her very successful sporting career, several business deals, and her large Instagram following (she has over a million followers).
Conclusion: A Judging Call full of Controversy with Far-reaching Consequences
This has been highly condemned and deplored when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled to take away the Olympic bronze medal won by Jordan Chiles. Actually, amid a brilliant performance and with the backing from USA Gymnastics, Chiles has been dispossessed of the distinction that was her rightful reward because of timing in respect to the challenge put forward by her coach.
The gymnastics community and the fans all over the world will definitely follow the development with much interest as she continues to seek justice through USA Gymnastics. Whatever the final verdict is, Jordan Chiles’s bravery and fight in the midst of turmoil stand for a strong reminder of what athletes often go through, sometimes right on the competition floor and at other times outside it.
