U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles’ Olympic bronze medal for the floor exercise is now at risk due to a judging dispute.

After Chiles performed on August 5, her coach challenged the initial scoring, which led to her score being adjusted higher than those of Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. This change put Chiles in third place on the podium.

However, on August 10, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided that the challenge was submitted too late—four seconds past the one-minute limit set by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). As a result, CAS has ruled that the appeal should not have been accepted and suggested that Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea should have their original third and fourth-place finishes reinstated.

The Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee has asked for two additional bronze medals to be given to Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea due to these judging issues. But on August 11, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that Chiles should return her bronze medal, which would then be awarded to Barbosu.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is challenging this CAS ruling, and Chiles, along with others, have voiced their opinions on social media.

This controversy over the gymnastics scoring has become a major talking point as the Olympics come to a close.

 

What happened to Jordan Chiles?

Jordan Chiles is now at risk of losing the bronze medal she earned in the floor exercise at this year’s Olympics. She was initially awarded the medal after a 0.1-point appeal, made by her coach, improved her score from 13.666 to 13.766. This adjustment moved her into third place, pushing Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who had scores of 13.700, out of the medal standings. In this situation, Barbosu would have taken the bronze due to a tiebreaker.

However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has recently ruled that the appeal was filed four seconds too late, which means it was invalid. This ruling suggests that Chiles’ bronze medal could be taken away and awarded to Barbosu, who originally thought she had secured third place.

It’s crucial to remember that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has the final say on who gets to keep their medals. FIG, the gymnastics governing body, has announced plans to revert to the original results, placing Chiles in fifth place behind Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea. This decision does not automatically mean Chiles will lose her medal, but it does put her standing in jeopardy.

After the IOC’s ruling on August 11, both Team USA and star basketball player LeBron James have voiced his support for Jordan Chiles. They have expressed their backing for the gymnast during this challenging time as she faces the potential loss of her bronze medal.

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TOPICS: Olympics