“Really, really hard to comprehend everything” - Jordan Chiles opens up on the aftermath of the bronze medal controversy at the Paris Olympics

By Riddhi Acharya

Modified Nov 12, 2024 02:01 GMT

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Months after the Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles is finally opening up about her bronze medal controversy at the Games. After an appeal, the American was awarded the bronze medal in the floor exercise in Paris, only for it to be stripped later.

Chiles started out her Olympic campaign looking strong and helped the USA reclaim the team event gold medal. Individually she qualified for the floor exercise finals alongside teammate Simone Biles. In the finals, the gymnast originally finished fifth, behind Romanian Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea.

However, Team USA submitted an appeal for Chiles’ score, arguing that the judges had missed one skill. Subsequently, the American’s score was updated to 13.766 from 13.666, moving her up to third place. However, she was stripped of her medal post the Olympic Games, when the Romanian team took the case to the CAS and argued that the USA’s appeal came outside of the required time limit.

Now, Jordan Chiles is finally opening up about her experience amidst the bronze medal controversy. Speaking to the Today Show, she explained that the whole ordeal was hard to comprehend, saying,

“Honestly, it’s been really, really hard just to comprehend everything that’s been happening. I’ve been able to finally now feel comfortable in a way to talk about what has been happening, it’s just been a difficult time for myself and I’m ready to speak on my truth.”

She added:

“I think now, it’s just the support that’s been around me that I’ve been like, ‘OK, I can’t control anything that’s happening on the outside, I can only control what my truth is, and I know what the truth is, and I know that we were right in everything that we were doing.”

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Jordan Chiles on feeling ‘sorry’ for Ana Barbosu

2024 Summer Olympics - Day 4 - Source: Getty

While Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal might have been awarded to Ana Barbosu, the American doesn't have any hard feelings for her Romanian counterpart. In her interview with the Today Show, the gymnast stated that she hasn't spoken to Barbosu, but she felt ‘sorry’ for her, saying,

“We have not had any conversations. I know that she has put stuff out on social media the same way that I was doing, and you know, they’re both amazing athletes and whatever she’s going through, I’m very, very sorry. I’ve been going through the exact same thing, but I haven’t spoken to her directly.”

After her bronze medal was stripped from her, Jordan Chiles and her team moved to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, arguing that the ‘procedures leading to the CAS panel’s decision were fundamentally unfair’. During this difficult time, Chiles has found support in her teammates, with the likes of Simone Biles and Suni Lee siding with her on social media.