Will Jordan Chiles lose her Olympic bronze medal after the CAS dismissed her appeal? What else can she do?

As the Olympic Summer Games come to an end, a new controversy has arisen in the gymnastics community. American gymnast Jordan Chiles, who recently won a bronze medal in the floor exercise, has been asked to return her medal due to technical issues. U.S. Gymnastics plans to challenge this decision. The situation stems from a dramatic and now controversial moment in the Games.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest authority in international sports disputes, has ruled that Chiles must give up her bronze medal. This decision came after an inquiry that initially moved her from fifth to third place, surpassing two Romanian gymnasts, when the judges awarded her an additional tenth of a point, citing a timing technicality. According to the court, the inquiry should have been filed within one minute of the routine’s completion. The U.S. coaches, however, submitted their inquiry one minute and four seconds after the routine ended, rendering it too late for consideration.

What happened during the Olympic Games Floor finals competition?

Gymnastics, a sport often fraught with subjective judgment, saw a critical error in this case. A judge initially failed to credit Chiles with a difficulty-valued skill in her routine, leading to the inquiry that ultimately awarded her the medal. Many fans have since expressed their frustration on social media platforms like TikTok, questioning the reliability of Olympic judges.

In response, USA Gymnastics contested the CAS ruling by submitting timestamped video evidence. The organization claimed this evidence shows Chiles’ coach first requested to file an inquiry 47 seconds after the score was posted, with a second statement made 55 seconds afterward.

How did Jordan Chiles react to the CAS decision?

Jordan Chiles, 23, appeared on Good Morning America after winning a medal. She expressed her pride in the accomplishment and praised Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu, who was moved to fourth place after the initial decision. “There were so many emotions and thoughts when I found out I got that bronze medal, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself,” Chiles said. “Ana Barbosu is an amazing athlete... I’m very proud of myself but also very proud of her as well.”

Following the controversy, Chiles announced she would be taking a break from social media to focus on her mental health. She wrote, “I’m taking this time to remove myself from social media for my mental health. Thank you.”

Her teammates have shown their support during this challenging time. Olympic champion Simone Biles posted a message of support, saying, “Keep your chin up, Olympic champ. We love you.”