Jordan Chiles has revealed her “devastation” at being stripped of her 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medal.
The US gymnast was initially awarded fifth place after her floor routine on 5 August at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but was bumped up to third after an appeal.
But in a dramatic twist, she was downgraded again after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled the appeal had been made too late.
In her first statement since the decision, the US gymnast described the ruling as “unjust”. She also condemned “racially driven attacks” against her on social media.
“I have no words,” she said. “This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey.”
Chiles added: “I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country.”
Chiles also thanked her supporters, as well as the USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, who vowed to appeal the decision to strip Chiles of third place.
After initially finishing in fifth place, the US gymnast was later shifted up to third after Cecile Landi, a Team USA coach, contested her difficulty score.
It brought Chiles from a 13.666 score after her routine to 13.766, meaning she clinched the bronze over Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu, who left the arena in tears before her country’s gymnastics federation lodged its own appeal.
Fellow American gymnast Simone Biles placed second in the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals, while Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade took gold.
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On 10 August, the CAS ruled that Ms Landi had filed an inquiry about Chiles’s difficulty score four seconds too late.
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said Saturday night it would respect the court’s decision and elevate Barbosu to third.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed the ruling Sunday, announcing that it was reallocating the medal and ordered Chiles to return it.
USA Gymnastics said they were “deeply disappointed” by the CAS ruling, and added they presented “conclusive new evidence” an inquiry was launched 13 seconds before the deadline.
Any further appeal by Team USA could go to Switzerland’s highest court, the Swiss Tribunal, or the European Court of Human Rights.