"I can't believe we play with athletes' emotions like this" - Nadia Comaneci on Jordan Chiles being awarded bronze over Anna Barbosu at Paris Olympics

By Marie Amani

Modified Aug 05, 2024 17:08 GMT

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Jordan Chiles became the surprise bronze medallist on floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a controversial last-minute change on Monday. Ana Barbosu was the initial winner of the bronze medal but was forced to settle for fourth place after the change.

Chiles was initially placed fifth before she submitted an appeal to the judges who had not credited one of her skills. According to NBC Sport, the skill, known as the Gogean, had been left out by the judges.

After it was added to her scores, Jordan Chiles finished with 13.766 points, while Ana Barbosu closely followed with 13.700. This marked Chiles’ first individual medal at the Paris Olympics after she claimed the gold medal with Team USA in the women's artistic team all-around.

Following the turn of events that got Barbosu emotional, Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci has come out to lament the poor treatment of the Romanian. The five-time Olympic champion noted that organizers should avoid playing with athletes’ mental health.

She added that the a review was needed to understand why Chiles was awarded the third-place finish ahead of her compatriot.

"I can’t believe we play with athletes mental health and emotions like this… let’s protect them #anabarbosu," Comaneci said on Twitter (now X).

"This floor routine needs a review.. we need to protect athletes mental health for being there for them… #sabrinavoinea," she added.

At the event, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade was the surprise winner ahead of Simone Biles, who took a silver medal.

Ana Barbosu breaks down after losing bronze medal to Jordan Chiles at Paris Olympics

Ana Barbosa in tears after losing bronze medal to Jordan Chiles at Paris Olympics- Source: Getty Images

When the results first came in, Ana Barbosu had believed that she had won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, only for an appeal from Jordan Chiles to turn her whole world around.

In videos that have gone viral on social media, Barbosu was initially all smiles as she held her country’s flag ready for the medal ceremony. However, her dreams were cut short as the announcers gave the update of the bronze medal being awarded to Chiles instead.

Following the announcement, Barbosa’s face sunk in sadness as she dropped her flag in shock. She was later seen walking off the floor crying, with her coach trying to encourage her.

In Paris, 18-year-old Barbosu, a former multiple-time gold medalist at the junior European Championships, was competing in her maiden Olympic Games.