Jordan Chiles must return Olympic bronze, IOC rules. USOPC says it will appeal decision

Jordan Chiles, a member of the U.S. gymnastics team, has been ordered to return her Olympic bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that Chiles’ medal, originally awarded in the women’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise, was invalid due to a technicality involving the timing of a score inquiry.

The controversy began when Chiles was initially placed fifth in the floor exercise final. Her coach submitted an inquiry to challenge the score, leading to a revision that moved Chiles up to third place, earning her the bronze medal. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later determined that the inquiry was filed after the one-minute deadline, a strict rule that is in place to ensure fairness and consistency in judging.

As a result, the IOC decided to revert to the original rankings, which means Romania’s Ana Barbosu will now be awarded the bronze medal. The decision has been met with disappointment from Chiles and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), who argue that the delay in filing the inquiry was due to a misunderstanding and not intentional.

The USOPC has announced its intention to appeal the decision, stating that they believe Chiles should not be penalized for what they consider a minor timing issue. They are hopeful that the appeal will be successful and that Chiles will be able to keep her bronze medal.

This situation has sparked discussions about the rigidity of rules in Olympic competitions and whether exceptions should be made in cases where the delay is minimal and does not impact the fairness of the competition. For now, the IOC’s decision stands, but the USOPC’s appeal could change the outcome​ (AS USA).