Jordan Chiles’ Olympic Bronze Medal in Jeopardy After CAS Ruling

American gymnast Jordan Chiles may lose her Olympic bronze medal in the gymnastics floor exercise following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The court voided an appeal from Chiles' coach that initially propelled her to third place, potentially handing the medal to Romania's Ana Barbosu instead.

The dispute centers around an appeal made by U.S. coach Cecile Landi, who requested an additional 0.1 point be added to Chiles' score. This adjustment moved Chiles from fifth to third place. However, CAS ruled that the appeal was submitted outside the International Gymnastics Federation's (FIG) one-minute window, thus invalidating the score change.

As a result, CAS ordered that the original rankings be reinstated, placing Barbosu in third, her teammate Sabrina Maneca-Voinea in fourth, and Chiles back to fifth. The FIG has been tasked with finalizing the rankings based on this ruling. FIG spokesperson Meike Behrensen noted that a statement would be released in due time, without specifying a timeline.

The Romanian Olympic Committee advocated for all three athletes to receive bronze medals, but the ruling favors Barbosu. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed satisfaction with the outcome, declaring that "justice has been served."

This ruling comes amid an emotionally charged period for the athletes involved. Romanian gymnastics icon Nadia Comaneci voiced concern for Barbosu's mental well-being, criticizing the situation for its impact on the athletes' mental health. Comaneci also questioned the judges' decision to deduct 0.1 points from Maneca-Voinea's score for an alleged out-of-bounds violation, despite video evidence suggesting otherwise.

Jordan Chiles hinted at the ruling in an Instagram story, expressing heartbreak and announcing a temporary retreat from social media for her mental health. The 23-year-old has faced harsh criticism online, with some demanding she return the medal and others making racist comments. In response, Chiles' mother defended her daughter, praising her sportsmanship and condemning the derogatory remarks.

Ana Barbosu, who believed she had secured bronze due to a tiebreaker, emphasized that the issue lies with the judging process, not with fellow athletes. She called for fairness and stressed that athletes should be judged purely on their performances.

The controversy also casts a shadow over what was initially a celebratory moment on the podium, where Chiles and teammate Simone Biles honored Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, the gold medalist. The gesture, which went viral, now carries a bittersweet note in light of the ruling.