American gymnast, Jordan Chiles captivated the audience with her floor routine at the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing a bronze medal.
Yet, the ensuing scoring controversy cast a shadow over her victory, sparking extensive discussions within the gymnastics society.
In the floor exercise, Jordan initially received a score of 13.666, narrowly trailing behind Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu’s 13.700.
Following an appeal by Jordan’s coaches to the judging panel for a deduction reassessment, the judges reconsidered their ruling and raised Jordan’s score by one-tenth of a point.
With this adjustment, Jordan surpassed Ana’s score, securing the bronze medal in the end.
Regrettably, the celebration was abruptly halted as the International Gymnastics Federation, FIG, revealed a probe into the ultimate scores.
With the inquiry wrapped up, there’s speculation surrounding the possibility of Jordan being requested to surrender her bronze medal.
Will Jordin Chiles have to return her bronze medal?
Unfortunately, Jordin Chiles will have to wait until 2028 to claim her first solo Olympic victory, as she has been asked to return her bronze medal.
The International Olympic Committee, IOC, announced on August 11 that the medal initially awarded to Jordan in the floor exercise at the Paris Games will now go to Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu.
This decision followed the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS, ruling that Jordin’s coaches’ appeal was submitted after the one-minute deadline.
According to NBC News, the appeal was lodged just four seconds past the deadline.
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has restored Jordan’s original score of 13.666, resulting in Ana moving up to third place with her score of 13.700.
In a statement, the IOC mentioned, “Following the CAS decision with regard to the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final and the amendment of the ranking by the International Gymnastics Federation, the IOC will reallocate the bronze medal to Ana Bărbosu.”
Despite the controversy, Jordan’s show has garnered immense acclaim.
Teammates and fans have united in her favour, showcasing their backing on social platforms and highlighting her role in Team USA.
The U.S. Olympic Committee fights for Jordan Chiles’ medal but CAS doesn’t budge
After the IOC’s decision, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee revealed that they would be appealing the new ruling.
USA Gymnastics tried to sway Cas to review their judgment, pointing to fresh video evidence backing their claim of a timely appeal.
However, they disclosed on Monday that their plea was turned down.
In response to Cas rejecting their appeal, USA Gymnastics affirmed their commitment to pursuing fair scoring, placement, and medal allocation for Jordan.
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