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.