Bronze Medal Revoked: Romanian Gymnast Ana Bǎrbosu Awarded Olympic Medal
In a surprise twist, the bronze medal originally won by American gymnast Jordan Chiles at the 2024 Paris Olympics has been officially revoked. According to a report by The Athletic, the decision comes after the Romanian Olympic Committee successfully challenged the USA’s initial challenge during the floor exercise. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld Romania’s appeal, and Ana Bǎrbosu, a Romanian gymnast, was awarded the bronze medal in a reallocation ceremony held on Friday in Bucharest, Romania.
The drama began when Chiles initially won the bronze medal after USA Gymnastics coach Cecile Landi landed a successful challenge. The call upped Chiles’ score by 0.1 of a point, giving her enough to place in third ahead of Bǎrbosu, who was infamously seen celebrating a third-place finish before seeing the results of Landi’s challenge.
However, Romania challenged the initial decision, and CAS ultimately ruled in their favor. USA Gymnastics filed a dispute, but it was unsuccessful. Chiles responded to the news, calling the situation “unjust” and “devastating.”
“I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey,” Chiles said. “To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport, and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country.”
Despite the controversy, Bǎrbosu expressed empathy and sympathy with Chiles and her teammate Sabrina Maneca-Voinea during a ceremony in Bucharest, where she was awarded the bronze medal.
“I can’t help but think about Sabrina and Jordan right now,” Bǎrbosu said. “It’s a difficult situation for us, with so many uncertainties and overwhelming emotions. I hope everyone understands that we have not done anything wrong at the Olympics. And that the Olympic spirit is more important than any misunderstanding between the authorities… I want to believe that the day will come when all three of us will receive a bronze medal.”
Chiles has vowed to approach this challenge as she has others and will make every effort to ensure that justice is done.
