Why Did Jordan Chiles Lose Her Bronze Medal: Olympic Gymnastic Ruling Controversy Explained

Why Did Jordan Chiles Lose Her Bronze Medal: Olympic Gymnastic Ruling Controversy Explained

As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours watching gymnastics competitions and Olympics, I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Jordan Chiles. This saga reminds me of a game where you think you’ve won, but then a glitch or technicality sends you back to square one.


A significant debate surrounds the bronze medal won by gymnast Jordan Chiles at the projected 2024 Paris Olympics. Initially, the judges decided she didn’t deserve a medal, but when the American team contested this decision as her score was apparently not recorded correctly, she received third place. However, this decision was challenged by the Romanian Team, causing her medal to be revoked. Now, the Americans argue that Chiles should rightfully keep the medal, claiming that the judges made an error and possess video evidence to support their claim.

We’ll unravel the confusing situation behind Chiles medal and whether or not she deserves it below.

Why did Jordan Chiles lose her medal?

In the gymnastics competition of the 2024 Paris Olympics held on August 5, Chile initially finished fifth during the floor exercise final. However, her Team USA coaches contested the decision as there was an error in entering her difficulty score. Upon reconsideration, this adjustment moved Chile up to third place, earning her the bronze medal.

Initially, the American gymnastics team’s appeal was deemed late by four seconds, which led to the judge’s decision against them. The Romanian Gymnastics Federation contested this verdict, arguing their case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In the end, the court sided with Romania, overturning the initial ruling. Consequently, gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea climbed up to third and fourth place respectively, while Chiles slipped back down to fifth.

On August 11, the International Olympic Committee initially took away Chile’s bronze medal and awarded it to Barbosu. But, according to Sports Illustrated, USA Gymnastics challenged this decision on the same day, presenting video evidence that Chile’s coach had submitted an appeal within the one-minute deadline. They argued that accusations of being four seconds late were incorrect.

Unfortunately, as reported by AP, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has stated that their rules do not permit a reconsideration of an arbitral award, even when new evidence is brought forward. In response, USA Gymnastics plans to challenge this decision via all available means, including appealing to the Swiss Federal Tribunal or the European Court of Human Rights if required.

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2024-08-13 03:10