"On August 12th, USA Gymnastics issued a heartfelt statement, expressing profound disappointment over the notification received, vowing to exhaust every conceivable avenue and embark on a relentless appeal process," they announced amidst the shocking news that Jordan Chiles' Olympic bronze medal had been officially rescinded.
In a social media statement that day, USA Gymnastics revealed the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) rejection of Chiles' appeal to reclaim the medal she had triumphantly secured following the women's individual floor exercise final on August 5. "The CAS notified us yesterday that their stringent regulations prohibit the reconsideration of arbitral decisions, even in light of compelling new evidence," the statement lamented.
"Deeply disheartened by this outcome, we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursue every legal recourse available, including an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure Jordan's rightful scoring, ranking, and medal entitlement are upheld," the organization added, underscoring their unwavering support for Chiles.
The 23-year-old Chiles, who initially finished fifth on August 5, had her fate dramatically altered when her coaches contested her initial score of 13.666, arguing that her routine deserved higher difficulty recognition for an awe-inspiring leap incorporating a mid-air split and a 540-degree turn. The judges concurred with Coach Cecile Landi's appeal, boosting Chiles' score to 13.766 and propelling her onto the podium as the first-ever all-Black trio in gymnastics history, alongside gold medalist Rebeca Andrade and fellow American Simone Biles, who secured silver.
However, on August 10, a devastating turn of events saw the CAS side with the challenge lodged by Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who claimed that Landi's protest was filed four seconds past the deadline. Consequently, Chiles' cherished Olympic medal was stripped away, despite the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee's (USOPC) valiant efforts to contest the ruling with video evidence suggesting the challenge was timely.
As of August 12, Barbosu stands as the sole recipient of the bronze medal, leaving Chiles' journey etched with a bittersweet memory, but her spirit and perseverance remain an inspiration to all.
