Sports
Chiles Stripped of Bronze as Online Abuse Sparks Outcry
American gymnast Jordan Chiles has been stripped of the bronze medal she initially won in the women’s floor final on Monday, following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The decision has led to Romania’s Ana Barbosu being awarded the bronze, after an appeal by the Romanian Olympic Committee was upheld.
The appeal focused on the timing of an inquiry submitted by Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, regarding the difficulty rating of Chiles’ routine. The CAS ruled that the inquiry was filed four seconds past the one-minute limit, making it invalid. As a result, Chiles’ score was reverted to 13.666, placing her fifth, while Barbosu’s original score of 13.7 secured her the third-place finish.
The reversal of Chiles’ bronze medal has ignited strong reactions, particularly due to the online abuse Chiles has faced throughout the appeal process. Both USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee expressed their devastation over the decision and condemned the “consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks” directed at Chiles on social media.
Chiles, 23, who had earlier won gold in the women’s team event, expressed her heartbreak on social media, posting four broken heart emojis and announcing her temporary withdrawal from social media for the sake of her mental health.
The situation also caused an uproar in Romania, where Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu labeled it a “scandalous situation” and even threatened to boycott the closing ceremony. The successful appeal led to the reinstatement of Barbosu’s medal, with the International Olympic Committee now coordinating with both the US and Romanian teams regarding the return and reallocation of the bronze medal.
USA Gymnastics defended the initial inquiry, stating it was made “in good faith” and believed to be within FIG rules. They also reiterated their support for Chiles, condemning the online abuse she endured and praising her integrity both on and off the competition floor.
British tennis player Jack Draper has secured a spot in the Japan Open last 16 after defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in straight sets. Draper, ranked world number 20, claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory, marking his first win since his US Open semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner earlier this month.
The 22-year-old’s triumph in Tokyo comes as a welcome return to form following a challenging Davis Cup in Manchester, where he lost both of his singles matches to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, contributing to Great Britain’s failure to reach the knockout stages.
After a tightly contested first set against world number 103 Bellucci, Draper dominated the second set, building a 5-1 lead before closing out the match. He will face Polish second seed Hubert Hurkacz in the next round on Friday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Yerson Mosquera is expected to miss the remainder of the season following a serious knee injury sustained in Wolves’ 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. The 23-year-old Colombian twisted his knee after a collision with Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the 82nd minute and was stretchered off the pitch.
Scans confirmed that Mosquera suffered damage to both the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which will require surgery. Wolves’ head of high performance, Phil Hayward, said, “We will be visiting specialists to finalise the plan for surgery, and it’s highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”
Mosquera had been a key part of Wolves’ defense this season, starting all five Premier League games after returning from a loan spell at Villarreal. His absence further deepens Wolves’ defensive issues, as they did not secure a replacement for Max Kilman following his £40m move to West Ham.
Wolves, currently winless and sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, face Liverpool at home in their next match.
Raphael Varane, former defender for Real Madrid, Manchester United, and the French national team, has retired from professional football at the age of 31. Varane, who joined Italian side Como in July, sustained a knee injury on his debut, prompting his decision to step away from playing. He will remain at Como in a non-playing capacity.
In an emotional Instagram post, Varane wrote, “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct,” explaining his desire to leave the sport on his own terms.
Varane began his career at Lens before a decade-long stint at Real Madrid, where he won 18 major trophies, including three La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. He later joined Manchester United in 2021, making 95 appearances and winning the Carabao Cup in 2022.
Internationally, Varane earned 93 caps for France, winning the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. Reflecting on his career, Varane expressed pride in both his achievements and staying true to his values.
He hinted at future projects with Como, adding, “Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.” Varane has also been vocal about the dangers of head injuries in football, having played through concussions during his career, and he has called for better protection for players.
Iceland Demands Supermarket Rivals Stop Selling Prawn Rings
Coldplay Set to Break Taylor Swift’s Wembley Record with 10-Night Run
Naomi Campbell Banned from Charity Work Following Misuse of Funds
-
Spotlight4 days agoTop Legal Pitfalls Employers Must Avoid to Prevent Wrongful Termination Claims
-
Sports4 days ago‘Haaland throwing ball at Gabriel a coward’s move’
-
Business4 days agoBritish Airways Suspends Summer 2025 Flights from Southampton Airport
-
Sports4 days agoBarcelona’s Ter Stegen to Undergo Knee Surgery After Injury
-
News4 days agoJapan Battles Devastating Floods Following Record Rainfall, Six Dead
-
Entertainment4 days agoDeadline Set for Bids on Historic Peter Pan House in Dumfries
-
Sports4 days agoStones Snatches Late Equaliser to Deny Arsenal Victory at Etihad
-
News2 days agoCaroline Ellison Sentenced to Two Years in Prison, Ordered to Forfeit $11 Billion in FTX Fraud Case