Jordan Childs said she was “heartbroken” by the decision to strip her Olympic bronze medal and said she had been subjected to racist slurs on social media.
At the Paris Olympics, a US gymnast was initially awarded the bronze medal in the floor exercise after her appeal against the judges’ scoring method was upheld, moving her from fifth to third place. However, the Romanian Olympic Committee said the appeal was made four seconds after the one-minute limit. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) subsequently invalidated Chile’s appeal, and the IOC ordered the US gymnast to return her medal. Romania’s Ana Barbos was promoted to third place, while Chile dropped to fifth. Romania had asked that both gymnasts be awarded the bronze medal.
Chiles disappeared from social media after the decision but returned on Thursday, explaining how the situation has affected her.
“I am at a loss for words. This decision is unjust and a huge blow not only to me but to everyone who has supported my journey,” Childs wrote. “What’s even more heartbreaking is that the unprovoked racist attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful.”
USA Gymnastics submitted evidence showing that Chiles’ appeal was timely, but the CAS rejected the appeal, saying the decision cannot be changed “even if conclusive new evidence is presented.”
Chiles said she will continue to fight for the bronze medal, which she also won with her U.S. teammates in the team event.
“I will take on this challenge just like anyone else and do everything in my power to ensure justice is served,” Childs wrote. “I have faith that at the end of this journey, those in power will do the right thing.”
USA Gymnastics could take the case to the Swiss Federal Court, which can hear appeals of CAS decisions, but courts rarely overturn such decisions. It also emerged that the head of the CAS committee handling Chile’s case, Dr. Hamid G. Garavi, had done legal work for the Romanian government. Cass told The New York Times. Garavi’s disclosures about his collaboration with the Romanian government were not disputed by any of the parties at the Chilean hearings.
Former Olympic gold medallist Nadia Comaneci said the scandal had hit hard for all the gymnasts involved.
“I can’t believe this is how they treat their athletes’ mental state and emotions…protect them,” Comaneci posted on X last week.
