- Team USA Olympian gymnast Jordan Chiles was initially rewarded the bronze medal in the Floor Exercise in Paris.
- Romania protested to the Court of Arbitration for Sport that a Chiles inquiry for her original score came four seconds too late, and her first score should be reinstated.
- The International Olympic Committee agreed with Romania, and are ordering Chiles to return her bronze medal.
Action at Olympic betting sites have come to a halt as the 2024 Games in France has ended. There were several storylines to watch during the Olympic Games, but there are some that continue after the event.
It is reported that the International Olympic Committee is ordering American gymnast Jordan Chiles to return her bronze medal. In an extremely difficult situation, the IOC is not going to change its mind on asking Chiles to return her medal. This seems like the beginning of a long legal battle between USA Gymnastics and the IOC.
What Happened at the Floor Exercise Event in Paris?
Jordan Chiles performed her routine in the Floor Exercise event, but she appealed that her difficulty score was incorrect. At the event, her appeal was granted, and Chiles was awarded the bronze medal. This led to one of the most enduring images of the Olympics, with Chiles and fellow American, silver gold medalist Simone Biles, bowing to gold-medal winner Rebecca Andrade of Brazil.
However, Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu and her team appealed that Chiles submitted her initial time four seconds later than the allotted one-minute period following her routine. The report states that USA Gymnastics rebutted that their appeal was actually submitted 13 seconds before the one-minute deadline.
USA Gymnastics appealed that ruling, but it was denied by the Court of Arbitration of Sport on Monday. In their statement, USA Gymnastics said:
“USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented. We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan.”
The story got the attention of Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav, who earned plaudits this summer for sponsoring the US women’s water polo team with his money. He said that he would get Chiles a bronze clock chain, similar to his famous clock he has worn for years.
Chiles’ mother, Gina Charles, said she would pass along the message as Chiles has stepped away from social media.
What Happens Now for Chiles and USA Gymnastics?
USA Gymnastics said they’re going to fight this all the way to the Swiss Tribunal, or even the European Court of Human Rights. The Americans feel like they’ve been wronged, and they reportedly have video evidence to substantiate their claims.
The IOC states that they’re working with Romania on a ceremony to honor Barbosu. But this is a battle that will be waged in the courts for a long time to come. Chiles does have a gold medal from the team all-around final, but losing the bronze in this individual event will sting for a while. There’s no telling how far USA Gymnastics will take this.
