Despite a ruling that has been defined as “final”, American gymnast Jordan Chiles reportedly has no intention of returning her bronze medal in the floor routine any time soon.
USA Today reporter Christine Brennan cites multiple sources who indicate Chiles still has the medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics in her possession.
“American Jordan Chiles is in the United States and still has possession of the bronze medal that was awarded to her in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics,” she writes.
There has been a brutal back-and-forth between the US women’s gymnastics team, their Romanian counterparts, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Romania’s Ana Bărbosu initially came in third in the competition. An appeal by Chiles’ coaches regarding the scoring of her routine difficulty launched her into third. It was later determined that the appeal was filed too late. The bronze was again awarded to the Romanian.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ultimately ruled in favor of disqualifying the initial appeal by Team USA.
Jordan Chiles Doesn’t Intend To Give Up Her Bronze
In the end, the CAS has consistently stated that its decision is final. Bărbosu is to be awarded the bronze medal and Chiles is to return hers.
But Chiles doesn’t intend to comply, it seems.
“There are no plans for Chiles to give the bronze medal back as U.S. officials say they plan to appeal what the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee said were ‘significant procedural errors’ by CAS,” USA Today reports.
USA Gymnastics has indeed vowed to fight for Jordan Chiles. They will “continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.”
They claim to have video evidence showing their appeal was filed in time. However, they have not been allowed to produce that evidence.
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Calls The Decision Unjust
Some Olympic fans contend that Chiles is correct and should not bow to the whim of the corrupt IOC.
LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke went so far as to suggest Jordan Chiles respond to the IOC with three words: “Go to hell.”
Of course, if Chiles intends to compete again in 2028, that might create some headaches. Not just for her, but all of Team USA.
Others contend that regardless of how you view the decision, had the roles been reversed and the Romanian gymnast refused to give back her bronze for Chiles, the outrage would be off the charts.
Chiles has insisted the decision is “unjust” and slammed critics for attacking her with ‘racist’ comments on social media.
“I have no words,” she said. “This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey.”
More or less unjust than being ruled against and then spitefully telling your Romanian counterpart to shove it?
Prior to the bronze medal drama unfolding, Chiles won gold in the team competition. She also has a silver from the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Bărbosu’s bronze is her only Olympic medal.
