Jordan Chiles has spoken out following the controversial decision to strip her of her bronze medal. In an emotional statement released on Thursday, Chiles expressed her deep disappointment and frustration with the ruling that revoked her 2024 Paris Olympics medal.
“I am overwhelmed by the love I have received over the past few days,” Chiles began. “I am also incredibly grateful to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, USAG, and the USOPC for their unwavering support during this difficult time.”
Chiles shared that she was celebrating her Olympic accomplishments when she learned her medal was being taken away. “I had confidence in the appeal brought by the USAG, who gave conclusive evidence that my score followed all the rules. This appeal was unsuccessful,” she explained.
Emotional Toll and Racially Driven Attacks Against Chiles
The ruling has taken a heavy emotional toll on the 23-year-old athlete. “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,” Chiles said. Adding to her distress, Chiles revealed that she has been the target of racially driven attacks on social media. “To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful.”
Despite the setback, Chiles remains resilient. “I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country,” she affirmed. Although finding joy has become a challenge, she continues to fight for justice. “I will approach this challenge as I have others—and I will make every effort to ensure that justice is done.”
Controversial Decision
The controversy centers around an alleged scoring error during the floor exercise final. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Chiles’ coach was four seconds late in submitting an inquiry to review her score. Although the inquiry was accepted and found that Chiles had been underscored, her medal was ultimately revoked. The bronze medal will now be awarded to Romanian gymnast Ana Maria Barbosu.
USA Gymnastics is challenging the decision, citing video evidence that the inquiry was submitted within the required timeframe. Despite the challenges, Chiles remains hopeful that the situation will be resolved fairly.
“I trust that the people in control will do the right thing,” Chiles concluded.