"The hate directed to us is painful" - Ana Barbosu pens emotional note as IOC asks Jordan Chiles to return medal won at Paris Olympics

By Agnijeeta Majumder

Modified Aug 12, 2024 08:31 GMT

Ana Barbosu extended her support to her Romanian counterpart Sabrina Voinea and US gymnast Jordan Chiles following the confusion surrounding the floor final scores at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Barbosu's score alteration in the floor finals has been reversed and she will soon get back her bronze medal that she lost to Chiles.

Barbosu competed in her maiden Olympic edition in Paris. The Romanian gymnast's impressive floor routine earned her 13.700 and placed her third behind Rebeca Andrade and Simone Biles.

However, fifth-placed Jordan Chiles' position was overturned when her team filed an inquiry for one of her leaps. The new score of 13.766 was enough to take the American to third.

This didn't please the Romanian Gymnastics Federation since the appeal was filed after the one-minute deadline and another Romanian gymnast, Sabrina Voinea, was also not scored correctly.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) conducted a hearing and stated that Chiles' floor exercise 'shall be reinstated' for FIG's misjudgment. After CAS released the ruling, Chiles took to her Instagram story to announce a break from social media for the ongoing mayhem. Earlier on Sunday, the IOC ordered Chiles to return her bronze ahead of Barbosu's reallocation ceremony.

Since FIG couldn't reverse the decision of Chiles' fate, it was the IOC's call to award the podium to the Romanian (via The Guardian). Barbosu, displeased with the saga, extended her support to Chiles and Sabrina Voinea for what they have gone through. She posted on her Instagram story:

"Sabrina, Jordan, my thoughts are with you. / know what you are feeling, because l've been through the same. But I know you'll come back stronger. I hope from deep of my heart that at the next Olympics, all three of us will share same podium. This is my true dream! This situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation. We, athletes are not to be blamed, and the hate directed to us is painful. / wanted to end this edition of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in the spirit of Olympism," her caption read.

Ana Barbosu penned a heartfelt note; Instagram - @ana_barbosu

Ana Barbosu took her Olympic fate in a positive light

Ana Barbosu is one of Romania's finest gymnasts, having won six European junior championships and three Romanian National Championship titles. Despite initially being stripped of the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, she penned a heartfelt note of gratitude to everyone who supported her in the journey.

"Being in two individual finals was more than I dreamed of. Going from 8th to 4th in the floor final was exciting! None of this would’ve been possible without the people who were unconditionally supporting me. A big thank you to all of them!" her caption read.

The Romanian Gymnastics Federation had requested three bronze medals for Barbosu, Chiles, and Voinea, but the latest decision would come as a blow for Chiles and Voinea.