Jordan Chiles said she was “deeply saddened” by the decision to strip her of her Olympic bronze medal, adding that she had been subjected to racist abuse on social media.
The American gymnast was initially awarded the bronze medal in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics after an appeal over how the judges scored her moves was accepted and she was moved from fifth to third. However, the Romanian Olympic Committee said the appeal was filed four seconds after the one-minute time limit had expired. The Court of Arbitration for Sport then overturned Chiles’ appeal and the IOC ordered the American to return the medal. Romanian Ana Barbosu was promoted to third while Chiles was demoted to fifth. The Romanian women asked that both gymnasts be awarded the bronze medal.
Chiles took a break from social media after the decision, but returned on Thursday to explain how the situation had affected her.
“I am at a loss for words,” Chiles wrote. “I feel this decision is unfair and comes as a blow not only to me but to everyone who has supported my journey. What makes it even more heartbreaking is that the unjustified racist attacks on social media are so wrong and hurtful.”
USA Gymnastics presented evidence it said showed Chiles’ appeal was within the time limit. But CAS rejected the appeal, saying its decision could not be overturned “even when new, compelling evidence is presented.”
Chiles said she will continue to fight for the bronze medal. She also won the gold medal in the team competition alongside her U.S. teammates.
“I will approach this challenge as I have approached others — and I will do everything I can to ensure justice is served,” Chiles wrote. “I believe that at the end of this journey, the people in charge will do the right thing.”
USA Gymnastics may turn to the Swiss Federal Court, which can hear appeals against CAS decisions, although the court rarely overturns such decisions. The chairman of the CAS panel in the Chiles case, Dr. Hamed J. Gharavi, was also found to have done legal work for the Romanian government. Kass told The New York Times, That Graffi disclosed his work with the Romanian government was not objected to by any of the parties involved in the hearing in Chile.
Former Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci said the saga had a negative impact on all the gymnasts involved.
“I can’t believe we’re playing with athletes with mental and emotional health issues this way… let’s protect them,” Comaneci wrote on X last week.
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