Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles has broken her silence after the International Olympic Committee ordered her to return the bronze medal she was awarded in women’s individual floor event during the Olympics in Paris.
“I have no words,” Chiles wrote on Instagram. “This decision feels unfair and comes as a significant blow, not only to me, but to everyone who has fought for my journey.”
After placing fifth, Chiles jumped into third place behind the Brazilian gymnast Rebecca Andrade and teammate Simone Biles after a request. Last week came the Court of Arbitration for Sport invalidated requestand ruled that US coach Cecile Landi had appealed four seconds too late. This restored the original finishing order, with Romania’s Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca Voinea moving to third and fourth respectively, and Chile’s returning to fifth.
The decision was supported by the International Gymnastics Federation. US Olympic officials said they would appeal, but later said the Court of Arbitration for Sport informed them of the decision could not be reconsidereddespite what USA Gymnastics called “conclusive new evidence” it said showed Landi filed her appeal in time. Chiles has been ordered to return her medal.
The 23-year-old gymnast said “uncalled for racially motivated attacks” on social media had contributed “to the heartbreak” in recent days.
“I am now facing one of the most challenging moments of my career. Believe me when I say I have had many,” Chiles wrote. “I will approach this challenge as I have others — and will do everything to ensure that justice is served. I believe that at the end of this journey, those in control will do the right thing.”
The post was shared by teammate Suni Lee, as before called the decision “completely unacceptable.”
USA Gymnastics has vowed to continue to pursue “all possible avenues and appeals processes … to ensure fair scoring, placement and medal awarding” for Chiles.