US Gymnast Jordan Chiles Says Stripping Her Olympic Bronze ‘Feels Unjust’

Jordan Chiles of Team United States competes in the artistic gymnastics women's floor exercise final on day 10 of the Olympic Games at Bercy Arena in Paris on Aug. 5, 2024. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

American Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles has spoken about a controversial decision to strip her of her bronze medal for the floor apparatus at the Paris 2024 Olympics, saying the move “feels unjust”, while vowing to seek justice.

Chiles addressed the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in an Aug. 15 post on Instagram.

The 23-year-old called the news “devastating” and said she had believed an appeal against the decision made by USA Gymnastics (USAG) would be successful, noting it provided “conclusive evidence that my score followed all the rules.”

“I have no words,” Chiles wrote. “This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow not just to me but to everyone who has championed my journey.”

The athlete said she has been left further heartbroken by the “unprompted racially driven attacks on social media” which she called “wrong and extremely hurtful.”

“I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country,” Chiles said.

Her comments come after the CAS last week ruled that her coach, Cecile Landi, was four seconds too late when she lodged an inquiry to review the athlete’s score during the floor exercise final.

Chiles had finished her routine with a score of 13.666 on Aug. 5, placing her fifth just behind Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and  Sabrina Maneca-Voinea.

However, after Landi lodged the inquiry—essentially asking the judges to review Chiles’s routine and score—Chiles’s result was increased by 0.1, bringing her final score to 13.766.

She was subsequently awarded the bronze medal.

That prompted the Romanian Gymnastics Federation to immediately file an official challenge with the CAS over the decision, arguing that Landi’s inquiry was not lodged within a one-minute deadline of the published result, as stated in the rules.

Chiles was ultimately stripped of the bronze medal, which was then awarded to Barbosu.

USA Gymnastics Appeal

USA Gymnastics had argued against the move and submitted evidence showing coach Landi submitted the inquiry 47 seconds after Chiles’s score was published.

However, in an Aug. 12 statement, USA Gymnastics said it had been notified by the CAS that the “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,” USA Gymnastics said.

Elsewhere in her Instagram post, Chiles thanked USA Gymnastics, her coaches, family, and fans for their support after the decision to strip her of the bronze medal.

The athlete said she is now “confronted with one of the most challenging moments of my career. Believe me when I say I have had many.”

“I will approach this challenge as I have others and I will make every effort to ensure that justice is done,” she wrote.

Chiles said she still hopes that “at the end of this journey, the people in control will do the right thing.”

Stephen Katte contributed to this report.