Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu was awarded the bronze medal for the individual floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday, following the reallocation ceremony held in Bucharest.
The medal was initially won by American gymnast, Jordan Chiles, but she was stripped of it after a dispute over scoring.
During the ceremony, Bărbosu, 18, received her medal from Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who also presented her with flowers.
Speaking to the media, Bărbosu expressed hope for unity among the gymnasts affected by the dispute, saying, “I want to believe that the day will come when all three of us [Bărbosu, Chiles, and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea] will receive a bronze medal.” S
he reflected on the situation, saying, “Thank you to everyone who added a bit of bronze to this medal. Right now I can’t help but think about Sabrina and Jordan as well. It’s a tough situation for us with so many uncertainties and overwhelming emotions. I hope everyone understands that we didn’t do anything wrong at the Olympic Games. And that the Olympic spirit is more important than any misunderstanding between the authorities.” This statement was also shared on her Instagram Stories.
In a separate Instagram post, Bărbosu shared a photo with Romanian Gymnastics Federation officials, captioned, “The team that formed the sports team and brought the Olympic medal home!”
The change in medal standings came after a petition from Bărbosu’s team, challenging the original results.
Chiles, who initially finished fifth with a score of 13.666, was moved to third place following an appeal by U.S. Gymnastics coach Cecile Landi.
Landi argued that Chiles’s routine deserved a higher difficulty score, which was granted, elevating her score to 13.766 and placing her in the bronze medal position.
However, the Romanian committee contested this adjustment, claiming Landi’s appeal was submitted past the official deadline.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of Bărbosu, declaring Chiles ineligible for the medal due to the late submission of the appeal.
The U.S. Gymnastics federation expressed their disappointment in a statement, noting, “We are devastated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling regarding women’s floor exercise. The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring.”
Chiles addressed the controversy in a statement on Instagram on August 15, expressing her dismay, “While celebrating my Olympic accomplishments, I heard the devastating news that my bronze medal had been stripped away.”
She defended the appeal process initiated by her coach, calling the decision unjust and a significant blow to her career.
Chiles also condemned the racially charged attacks she faced online, stating, “To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country.”
Chiles concluded, “This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey. I will approach this challenge as I have others — and will make every effort to ensure that justice is done. I believe that at the end of this journey, the people in control will do the right thing.”
