US gymnast Jordan Chiles expressed her heartbreak after being stripped of her Olympic bronze medal in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics. Initially awarded bronze after successfully appealing the judges’ scoring, Chiles was later disqualified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) due to a technicality regarding the timing of the appeal. The decision led to backlash on social media, with Chiles revealing she had been subjected to racially motivated abuse.
Chiles, who also won gold in the team event, vowed to continue fighting for her bronze medal despite Cas’s ruling. USA Gymnastics attempted to submit evidence showing the appeal was made within the time limit, but Cas upheld its decision. The head of the Cas panel on her case, Dr. Hamid G Gharavi, had conducted legal work for the Romanian government, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Former Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci commented on the ordeal, expressing disbelief at the impact on the gymnasts’ mental health and emotions. The Romanian Olympic Committee had requested that both Chiles and Ana Barbosu be awarded bronze, but the final decision left Chiles without a medal and Barbosu in third place.
Chiles, who briefly took a break from social media following the decision, stated her determination to seek justice and resolve the situation. The possibility of appealing to the Swiss Federal Tribunal remains, although the likelihood of overturning Cas’s decision is low. Overall, the situation highlights the challenges and pressures faced by athletes in high-stakes competitions like the Olympics.
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