‘Racism’: Gymnastics farce as Jordan Chiles stripped of podium spot on technicality
One of the star’s of this year’s Games has been stripped of her podium spot after a shock call from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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US gymnastics star Jordan Chiles has been stripped of her podium spot after a dramatic ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The court ruled on Sunday that the inquiry that led to Chiles’ score being increased - moving her from fifth to third in the women’s floor final - was improperly granted, as it was submitted past the one-minute deadline.
The court said the 23-year-old should have received her original 13.666 score and placed fifth.
The late inquiry resulted in devastating scenes for Romanian’s Ana Barbosu’s who was already celebrating her bronze medal on the gym floor, draped in her nation’s flag.
Barbosu’s face dropped as Chiles’ score increased by one-tenth of a point to put her in third with the Romanian exiting the floor.
On Sunday morning AEST, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) upheld the decision by CAS, rejigging the placements to put Romanian Ana Barbosu in third and Chiles in fifth.
The International Olympic Committee has not yet confirmed whether Chiles will be made to physically hand back her bronze.
Chiles responded to the decision on social media, posting four heartbreak emojis on a black background to her Instagram stories before writing: “I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health. Thank you.”
Her older sister came out firing on social media over the decision, blaiming racism for the decision.
Jazmin wrote on her Instagram story: “Please keep Jordan (and my family) in your prayers. Racism is real, it exists, it is alive and well.
“They have officially, 5 days later, stripped her of one of her medals. Not because she didn’t win, not because she was drugged, not because she stepped out of bounds. Not because she wasn’t good enough. But because the judges failed to give her difficulty and forced an inquiry to be made.”
“FOUR SECONDS. Her bronze was stripped over 4 seconds of time that would have never needed to happen if the judges did their job.
“I love you baby sis. And I got yo back no matter what.”
Fellow USA teammate Simon Biles also posted on social media about the news.
“Sending you so much love Jordan. Keep your chin up olympic champ! we love you!” Biles wrote on her Instagram.
Biles accompanied her post with a photo of the two gymnasts embracing.
In a joint statement from USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the organisations said they were “devastated” by the decision.
“The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring,” the statement said.
“Throughout the appeal process, Jordan has been subject to consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks on social media. No athlete should be subject to such treatment. We condemn the attacks and those who engage, support or instigate them.
“We commend Jordan for conducting herself with integrity both on and off the competition floor, and we continue to stand by and support her.”
The Romanian Gymnastics Federation instigated the CAS ruling by conducting multiple appeals, as its gymnasts - Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea - had been bumped down by Chiles’ score going up.
Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu even said he had decided to boycott the closing ceremony over the fiasco.
Chiles won gold as part of the team all-around final in Paris, but this marked her first individual medal at these Olympics.
- With New York Post
Originally published as ‘Racism’: Gymnastics farce as Jordan Chiles stripped of podium spot on technicality
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