Gymnast Jordan Chiles Faces Racist Abuse After Medal Controversy

US gymnast Jordan Chiles has reported receiving racist abuse online following a controversial decision that stripped her of the bronze medal she won at the Paris 2024 Olympics, BBC reported.

Initially, Chiles was awarded third place in the women's floor final after an appeal that re-evaluated her routine's difficulty. However, a subsequent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) reinstated Romania's Ana Barbosu to third place, citing that the Romanian Olympic Committee's appeal was filed just before the one-minute deadline, thus demoting Chiles back to fifth.

Expressing her frustration, Chiles noted, "This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow." She emphasized the emotional toll, saying the racial abuse she has faced on social media is deeply hurtful. "I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and am so proud to represent my culture and my country," she added.

USA Gymnastics (USAG) attempted to contest the Cas ruling with new video evidence suggesting that Chiles' appeal was within the permitted time frame. Despite these efforts, Cas dismissed this evidence, maintaining that their decision could not be altered, leading USAG to state their strong disagreement with Cas' judgment.

The dispute was further complicated by disclosures that Dr. Hamid G. Gharavi, head of the Cas panel on Chiles' case, had performed legal work for the Romanian government. Though this affiliation had been revealed, no objections were raised during the case.

Jordan Chiles remains committed to seeking justice. "I will approach this challenge as I have others – and will make every effort to ensure that justice is done," stated Chiles. She retains faith that the appropriate authorities will ultimately correct this wrong.

Support for Chiles has also come from former Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci, who criticized the impact of such decisions on athletes' mental health. "I can’t believe we play with athletes' mental health and emotions like this... Let’s protect them," Comaneci posted on social media.

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