IOC Rules Jordan Chiles Must Return Bronze Medal

IOC Requests Reallocation Ceremony for Bronze Medal

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has requested the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to organize a “reallocation” ceremony following the decision to strip Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal from Monday’s floor final.

Review of Scores and Controversy

Chiles had initially finished in fifth place in the floor final after her routine was scored at 13.666. However, she and her coaches requested a review of the scores, citing that her difficulty score did not credit one of the skills in her routine. The judges granted the review, awarding Chiles an extra tenth, which pushed her into the bronze medal position.

Appeal and Reinstatement

The controversy escalated as the Romanian Olympic Committee appealed the scoring to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ruled that Team USA’s request for a score review was filed a few seconds late according to the rules. Consequently, Chiles’s original score was reinstated, moving her back to fifth place and awarding the bronze medal to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu.

Reallocation of Medals

In response to CAS’s decision, the IOC announced that the bronze medal would be reallocated to Ana Barbosu. Romania had also appealed for Sabrina Maneca-Voinea to receive a bronze medal as well, but the appeal was rejected by CAS due to procedural issues.

Emotional Impact on Athletes

Following the announcement of the decision, Chiles expressed her disappointment on social media and revealed that she would be taking a break from social media for her mental well-being. The 23-year-old had faced online abuse amid the controversy surrounding the scoring of her routine.

The additional insight in the rewritten article elaborates on the procedural issues and the emotional toll the controversy took on Jordan Chiles, providing a more comprehensive view of the situation.