On August 10, 2024, Jordan Chiles was stripped of her bronze medal in floor at the Paris Olympics after a judge in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of two Romanian gymnasts. The 23-year-old earned her first individual Olympic medal, which followed with some controversy after she originally finished in fifth. Still, her coach submitted an inquiry into the decision, indicating that her difficulty score was too low, specifically about a leap that incorporated her executing a split in the air while turning 540 degrees.
The judges agreed and boosted Chiles’ score from 13.666 to 13.766, giving her bronze over Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosa, who scored 13.700. Later in the weekend, the Romanian Olympic committee protested. A CAS judge ruled that the coach submitted the inquiry in one minute and four seconds, showcasing that four seconds was too late to count.
The incident caused a frenzy online, and Chiles’ family spoke out in outrage at the situation. “They have officially, [five] days later, stripped her of one her medals,” The gymnast’s sister, Jazmin Chiles, penned on Instagram. “Not because she didn’t win, not because she was drugged, not because she stepped out of bounds, not because she wasn’t good enough.”
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PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 5: Jordan Chiles of Team United States in action Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor Exercise Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Bercy Arena on August 5, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages)
Chiles’ name continued to be the weekend trending topic as many people tried to dissect and understand exactly why this happened. “Racism is real, it exists, it is alive and well,” Chiles’ sister wrote. “Her bronze was stripped over [four] seconds of time that would have never needed to happen if the judges did their job.”
As the conversation continued, the USA Gymnastics submitted additional evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “In the letter, USA Gymnastics requests that the CAS ruling be revised and Chiles’ bronze-medal score of 13.766 reinstated,” the statement says.
The sudden change has led many to question the fairness and transparency of the scoring system, fueling debates on social media about the consistency of judging in gymnastics competitions. Supporters are particularly concerned that such decisions could undermine athletes’ confidence and the integrity of the sport. Fans and supporters began to rally around Chiles, including her teammate Simone Biles, who wrote, “Sending you so much love, Jordan. Keep your chin up, Olympic champ! We love you” on her Instagram story.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 05: Jordan Chiles of Team United States competes during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor Exercise Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The lack of clear communication from the authorities exacerbates the confusion. Many expected a detailed explanation or breakdown of why the medal was rescinded, but the absence of such information has only fueled speculation and frustration.
In gymnastics, gymnasts are scored for difficulty on the floor, but the judges miscounted a certain skill during Chiles’ performance. “If a judge overlooks something, it’s on the judge at the end of the day,” says former college gymnast Gabrielle Cooke. According to Cooke, this is a common act, and your coach can appeal the score if the difficulty is not counted correctly.
During the entire debacle the USA Gymnastics did not have access to video evidence until recently. “The time-stamped video evidence submitted by USA Gymnastics Sunday evening shows Landi first stated her request to file an inquiry at the inquiry table 47 seconds after the score was posted, followed by a second statement 55 seconds after the score was originally posted,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement.
Though the USA Gymnastics organization continues to fight for Chiles to keep her medal, the recent update is that although they have additional evidence, the CAS will not reopen the case. “USA Gymnastics was notified [by Cas] on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan.”
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 05: Gold medalist Rebeca Andrade (C) of Team Brazil, silver medalist Simone Biles (L) of Team United States and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles (R) of Team United States pose on the podium at the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor Exercise Medal Ceremony on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Jordan Chiles’ experience of losing her Bronze medal highlights the systemic unfairness that Black women in sports have long endured. Despite her talent, dedication, and resilience, Chiles faced a situation that reflected the broader patterns of inequality and bias in sports.
“We also have three Black women being on a podium, which has never been a thing [in] gymnastics, in terms of the Olympics, and that was a huge deal,” Cooke says. “It’s the fact that [the judges] are at this level, you’re judging things, and you don’t get it right, but then it falls on the gymnast. Now it’s like playing tug of war with a medal, and it shouldn’t even be that. If you were scored wrong, the score should be fixed regardless.”
Black women athletes often have to navigate additional obstacles, including racial and gender discrimination, that their counterparts may not encounter. This situation serves as a stark reminder of the challenges Black women face, even at the highest levels of competition, where their achievements are often overshadowed by controversy or dismissed altogether.
About the Author: Kenyatta Victoria is the lead writer for Essence GU, working on all things pop culture, politics, entertainment and business. Throughout her time at GU, she’s garnered devoted readers and specializes in the Zillennial point of view.