Gymnast Jordan Chiles Revisits 'Hard' 2024 Paris Olympics Bronze Medal Drama
Jordan Chiles is reflecting on the scoring controversy at the 2024 Paris Olympics again in an emotional interview.
Jordan Chiles is reflecting on the scoring controversy at the 2024 Paris Olympics again in an emotional interview.
The gymnast addressed the bronze medal drama in her first live TV interview since the August incident. She fought back tears while recounting the unfairness of the situation, maintaining that her side had been right.
Jordan Chiles lost the bronze medal in the floor finals after Romanian officials contested the judges' decision to award her more points for a skill they missed. The Court of Arbitration for Sport sided with them and reinstated her original score.
Jordan Chiles Is Grateful For Fans' Support
Chiles opened up about her Olympics controversy in an interview with "TODAY's" Hoda Kotb on November 11. The video of their conversation was shared on the news outlet's YouTube page, with the 23-year-old gymnast confessing how challenging the situation has been.
"Honestly, it's been really, really hard just to comprehend everything that's been happening. I've been able to finally now feel comfortable in a way to talk about what has been happening," Chiles admitted.
"It's just been a difficult time for myself, and I'm ready to speak my truth," she continued, noting that the outpour of love and support helped her move forward. Chiles maintained that she and her team were not wrong in the scoring drama, saying:
"I think now, it's just the support that's been around me that I've been like, 'OK, I can't control anything that's happening on the outside; I can only control what my truth is, and I know what the truth is, and I know that we were right in everything that we were doing.'"
Chiles Vows To 'Overcome' This Difficult Phase Of Her Life
While addressing the bronze medal loss, Chiles couldn't hide her emotions, which intensified when she reflected on her late grandfather's words of wisdom. Tearing up, she noted the patriarch always told her, "Everything happens for a reason."
She claimed her late grandfather led by example when overcoming "tough situations" and would embody his ways in her Olympics trials. Chiles vowed to persevere through this challenging phase of her life, declaring:
"I'll be able to overcome this, and I'll be able to look back and say, you know what, 'That was just a portion of my story, but it's the truth.' And that's why I'm here today, is to tell my truth."
The Gymnast Remains Adamant About Deserving The Bronze Medal
During the Paris Games, Chiles received 13.666 in the floor finals on August 5. However, Team USA submitted an inquiry, claiming the judges had not awarded her points for a skill she had demonstrated.
The judges reviewed the case and awarded Chiles extra points that pushed her from fifth place to third with the new 13.766 score. She beat Romanian gymnasts Ana Bărbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, but their team refused to accept the change.
Romanian officials then contested the judges' decision, arguing that Team USA had submitted their inquiry too late. But Chiles slammed their argument in her recent interview, claiming, "Everything was very right. Everything was in the time that it needed to be."
The Bronze Medal Drama Was A 'Significant Blow'
Chiles argued that she and her team had "proof" that they submitted the inquiry correctly. However, it was unclear if this evidence was submitted during her appeal in August.
The Blast reported that Chiles broke her silence about the bronze medal drama in a lengthy statement on Instagram. She revealed the USAG had provided "conclusive evidence" that her score followed the rules in their appeal, but it was unsuccessful.
"I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me but to everyone who has championed my journey. To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful," Chiles lamented.
Jordan Chiles Received Ana Bărbosu's Support
After Chiles was stripped of the bronze medal, it was awarded to Romanian gymnast Bărbosu — the initial third-place winner before the scoring controversy. The latter addressed the situation on her Instagram Story, writing:
"Sabrina [Maneca-Voinea], Jordan, my thoughts are with you. I know what you are feeling because I've been through the same. But I know you'll come back stronger."
"I hope from deep of my heart that at the next Olympics, all three of us will share [the] same podium. This is my true dream!" Bărbosu penned. She stressed that athletes were not to blame but the officials who did not respect the regulations.
Will Jordan Chiles let Ana Bărbosu keep the bronze medal, or will she keep fighting to reclaim it?
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