"I saw Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles cheering and I was like what happened" - Ana Barbosu recounts dramatic floor finals at Paris Olympics 2024
Ana Barbosu has narrated the turn of events that occurred after the final of the floor exercise at the Paris Olympic Games. Barbosu noted that looking at the screen, she had finished third with 13.700 points and was all smiles as she held Romania’s flag, ready for the medal ceremony.
However, her joy was cut short after Jordan Chiles, who had initially finished fifth with 13.666 points moved two places up after her coach filed an inquiry. The inquiry was approved and her score increased to 13.766, which took her to third place over Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea.
Rebeca Andrade of Brazil and Simone Biles finished first and second with 14.166 points and 14.133 respectively. In an interview with the Un Podcast la alt nivel (High-Level podcast), Barbosu pointed out that it was not until she saw Chiles and Biles celebrating that she realized she had been moved to fourth place.
Ana Barbosu disclosed that she had already started thinking about the shoes she would wear for the medal ceremony after seeing the initial score. She was heartbroken to see the final score and said it was hard to process what she was feeling, forcing her into tears.
"And I waited, I got my pants, I had to figure out what shoes to wear, cause I didn’t think about an outfit for the podium. And I was over there talking to Corina, ‘Like what do I do? Do I need shoes?’ And when I saw those results on the screen, I really thought it was for real and I really wanted to lift the flag so that Romanians can all feel the emotions I’m feeling right now," Barbosu said.
She added:
"I got up there and I saw Jordan and Simone cheering and I was like, what happened and then I looked at the screen and saw Jordan’s score was inquired and it was accepted and I was like, ‘Okay Ana, get down cause like lol.’ During the day of the competition I was calm, didn’t cry until what happened (floor final) for which then I did cry cause you know, it was hard."
Ana Barbosu reacts after receiving bronze medal at Paris Olympics
Ana Barbosu empathised with Jordan Chiles and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea after receiving her bronze medal on the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics.
As quoted by Olympics.com, Barbosu claimed that it was a tough situation for her and her competitors, noting that she longs for a day when they all win medals.
"Right now I can't help but think about Sabrina (Maneca-Voinea) and Jordan as well. It's a tough situation for us with so many uncertainties and overwhelming emotions. I want to believe that the day will come when all three of us will receive a bronze medal," she said.
Meanwhile, Jordan Chiles had initially been granted the medal but the Romanian Gymnastics Federation filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The CAS ruled in favour of Barbosu, noting that Chiles’ additional score was invalid since her coach filed an appeal after the stipulated window, according to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).