Paris Olympics 2024 shocker: USA gymnast Jordan Chiles to return Olympics medal after court verdict?

The International Gymnastics Federation restored Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu to third in the Paris Olympics 2024 women's floor exercise final Saturday, potentially forcing American gymnast Jordan Chiles to return the bronze she won in the event, as per an AP report.

It’s unclear whether Chiles will be compelled to send back medal. The federation, known as FIG, said while it has restored the initial order of finish — with Barbosu third, Romanian teammate Sabrina Maneca-Voinea fourth and Chiles fifth — the allocation of medals was up to the International Olympic Committee.

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FIG made the decision not long after the Court of Arbitration for Sport voided an appeal from Team USA coach Cecile Landi during the competition that had vaulted Chiles onto the podium.

CAS ruled Saturday that the on-floor appeal Monday by Cecile Landi to have .1 added to Chiles' score came outside the 1-minute window allowed by the FIG. The ad hoc committee wrote that Landi's appeal came 1 minute, 4 seconds after the score was posted.

CAS wrote that the initial finishing order should be restored, with Barbosu third, Maneca-Voinea fourth and Chiles fifth. The organization added the FIG should determine the final ranking “in accordance with the above decision," but left it to FIG to decide who would get the medal behind gold winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil and silver medalist Simone Biles of the U.S.

FIG spokesperson Meike Behrensen said in an email to The Associated Press that “Reallocation of medals is the responsibility of the IOC.”

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At the Olympics, the governing body of each sport manages the competition and decides the results. The IOC typically accepts that result — once appeals to CAS are completed — and formally awards the medals. It's unclear if the IOC or FIG would ask Chiles to return her medal. The gymnast is already back in the United States.

The Romanian Olympic Committee had asked for three bronze medals to be awarded. Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu reacted to the ruling by saying “justice has been served” and that “in the end, the truth prevailed.”

The ruling adds another layer to what has been a difficult few days for all three athletes.

Chiles hinted at the decision in an Instagram story on Saturday, indicating she is heartbroken and is “taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you.”

Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea were left outside the medals in the floor final after finishing with matching scores of 13.700. Barbosu thought she had won bronze over Maneca-Voinea via a tiebreaker — a higher execution score — and began celebrating with a Romanian flag.

Chiles was the last athlete to compete and initially given a score of 13.666 that placed her fifth, right behind Maneca-Voinea. Landi called for an inquiry on Chiles' score.

FAQs

Q1. What is the age of Jordan Chiles?
A1. Jordan Chiles is 23-year-old.

Q2. What is the full form of CAS?
A2. CAS stands for Court of Arbitration for Sport.