US gymnast Jordan Chiles has returned to social media to speak concerning the controversial decision to remove her Olympic bronze medaland expressed her deep frustration and disappointment over what she calls an “unjust” decision.
The 23-year-old shared her thoughts on Instagram on Thursday, five days after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) restored a previous rating which knocked her off the rostrum in the ladies's floor final on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“I am at a loss for words. This decision feels unfair and is a heavy blow not only for me, but for all those who have supported my journey,” said Chiles. “To add to the grief, the unsolicited racially motivated attacks on social media are false and extremely hurtful.”
She also thanked for the She received support from USA Gymnastics and their fans who vow to continue fighting for justice.
“I’ll face this challenge like others – and I’ll make every effort to make sure justice is finished,” she wrote.
With a rating of 13,666, Chiles initially landed in fifth place This put her behind the Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who were tied with 13.700.
But after her coach appealed to the judges, arguing that the gymnast's difficulty rating had been set too low, the court ruled in Chiles' favor and increased her rating to 13.766, earning her a spot on the rostrum.
On Saturday, CAS ruled that the coach's appeal was 4 seconds too late and reinstated Chile's previous rating. The International Gymnastics Federation upheld the court's decision, after which it was announced on Sunday that the two-time Olympian must return her bronze medal.
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