Jordan Chiles is speaking out for the first time since the International Olympic Committee decided to strip her of her bronze medal. On Thursday, the American gymnast released a statement expressing her disappointment at the “unfair” decision by the IOC to strip her medal and award it to Romania.
Chiles began her post by thanking fans, coaches and USA Gymnastics for their “unwavering support,” but called the IOC's decision to strip her medal “devastating” and admitted she was “confident” that USA Gymnastics' appeal would return her medal.
“I can’t find the right words to express this. I feel this decision is unfair and a huge blow, not only to me, but to everyone who supported my journey,” she wrote. “What makes it even more heartbreaking is that the unjustified racist attacks on social media are so wrong and hurtful.”
“I put my heart and soul into this sport and I am very proud to represent my culture and country,” she added.
Over the weekend, Chiles learned that her bronze medal was in jeopardy after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that her total score should be reverted to 13.666, putting her in fifth place and awarding third place to gymnast Ana Barbosu of Romania, who scored 13.700 and whose country has appealed to CAS.
At the Games, Chiles' coaches appealed to the judges, arguing that the difficulty level of her routine was incorrect; the judges agreed, and when the score was adjusted by 0.1, Chiles' new score of 13.766 was enough to overtake Barboso and Voinya's score of 13.700, giving her the bronze medal at the last minute.
However, after Romania appealed, the Court of Arbitration for Sport found that the USA team's appeal came after one minute and four minutes. Seconds — Coaches have the right to appeal the result after one minute of judging – so the Court of Arbitration for Sport threw out the USA team’s appeal and reduced Chiles’ score to 13.666 and fifth place. USAG responded with an appeal that appeared to prove the team’s request came before the allotted 60 seconds, but the decision stood.
“I will never waver from my values of competing fairly, striving for excellence, and upholding the values of sportsmanship and the rules that dictate fairness,” Chiles wrote. “I have been proud to cheer for everyone regardless of team or country. Finding joy again has been a cultural shift and I love seeing others embrace it. I feel like I have given everyone permission to be themselves.”
Chiles concluded her post by sharing her hope that the people in control will “do the right thing” and continue to fight for justice.
“I am facing one of the most challenging moments of my career right now. Believe me when I say that I have been through many challenges,” she wrote. “I will approach this challenge as I have approached others — and I will do everything in my power to ensure that justice is served.”
