"These athletes deserve better"-Cecile Landi slams FIG president’s statement about drama in the finals of the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Aug 25, 2024 04:48 GMT

Cecile Landi has been critical of the statement made by the FIG president with regard to the controversy regarding the floor exercise finals of the Paris Olympics. In the FIG bulletin for August, Morinari Watanabe, the FIG President, addressed the matter as a 'tragedy that must never happen again'. This statement, however, backfired badly and was subject to immense criticism.

Apart from Jordan Chiles' mother, Landi recently took to her X account [formerly Twitter] to criticize the FIG president for his rather insensitive take on the entire incident.

Taking FIG and its president, Watanabe, head-on, she wrote:

"Very disappointing statement.....

And if FIG and IOC [@gymnastics and @iocmedia] think that the USA is done fighting, well they are wrong!

These athletes deserve better especially after they have done for this sport!"

Jordan Chiles had initially finished fifth in the floor exercise finals, below Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea of Romania. However, when Cecile Landi appealed against the decision, citing that the American gymnast was not judged properly for her execution, the jury panel upgraded her scores to give her the bronze medal.

The Romanian authorities protested against this decision and ultimately the CAS had to intervene, restoring the bronze medal originally given to Ana Barbosu.

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Cecile Landi's stance on Jordan Chiles bronze medal controversy at the Paris Olympics

Cecile Landi embracing Jordan Chiles after her routine at the Team All Around Finals at the Tokyo Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

Cecile Landi has unequivocally been supportive of Jordan Chiles throughout the controversy regarding her bronze medal. When FIG released their statement over the controversy, she criticized it by posting on her X account [formerly Twitter]:

"I'm sorry but this isn't a statement about the floor final.....Nothing is said regarding the athletes and what they have endured and still do! Do better FIG!"

Just a day after the floor exercise finals, i.e. August 6, Cecile Landi was subject to immense criticism by a section of gymnastics enthusiasts on the social media for appealing against the original decision. When one person accused the American coach of cheating, Landi bluntly mentioned in her reply on Instagram,

"I shouldn't have to explain but I will ONCE.......

Jordan's highest possible SV on a possible floor is a 5.9. At quals and team finals, she received a 5.8 and we didn't question it, because we saw that not all elements were completed. During the floor finals, we thought it was better, and being placed fifth with nothing to lose, I sent the inquiry so I wouldn't regret not asking. I didn't think that it would be accepted and at my surprise it was."

Jordan Chiles had initially finished fifth overall with a score of 13.666, while Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea of Romania got a joint score of 13.700, with Sabrina being placed fourth for the penalty.

However, Cecile Landi was of the opinion that Jordan Chiles' execution was not judged properly, and registered an appeal against the same. After a long discussion, the judges upgraded the score of Jordan Chiles from 13.666 to 13.766, thereby awarding her the bronze medal.

However, the Romanian authorities cried hoarse, with the Romanian PM threatening to boycott the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Ultimately, the Court of Arbitration for Sport restored the original decision and stripped Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal.