Rising U.S. Team USA star Jordan Chiles could also be forced to quit the Olympic bronze medal he won on Aug. 5 following a surprising ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Saturday, Aug. 10.

The decision got here after a protest from Romania, one in every of nearly two dozen European teams competing, which challenged an appeal that originally secured Chiles a podium spot in the ladies’s individual freestyle competition. The podium might have been historic because it will have been the just one to feature only women of African descent. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade won gold, and Simone Biles took silver on the conclusion of the competition.

Chiles’ freestyle was initially placed fifth with a rating of 13.666. However, her rating was increased to 13.766 when Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, approached the judges a few jump that was initially rated as tougher.

Landi argued that the judges underestimated Chiles’s execution of the split vault — or tour jeté full, as it known as in gymnastics — and wrongly awarded her 5.800 points for difficulty as a substitute of 5.900. After review, the judges agreed with Landi’s assessment and raised Chiles’ rating. The adjustment moved her from fifth to third place, ousting Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu, much to the outrage of the Romanian team.

Barbosu and her team were understandably upset about being sidelined, and the Romanian Gymnastics Federation quickly expressed its displeasure with the CAS decision. They then pressed officials to reconsider the case, stating that Chiles’ appeal was allegedly filed 4 seconds too late within the one-minute window allowed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

At the time, Romanian gold medalist Nadia Comaneci tweeted: “I can’t believe this is how we treat athletes’ mental health and emotions… let’s protect them #anabarbosu.”

I am unable to imagine we’re fiddling with the mental health and emotions of athletes… let’s protect them #anabarbosu https://t.co/BX2hipxmM5

— Nadia Comaneci (@nadiacomaneci10) August 5, 2024

Another Romanian gymnast who competed with Chiles also accused the judges of favoring her. In an interview after the event, 17-year-old Sabrina Voinea, who scored 13.700, said, “Simone Biles is a good athlete, but the American in third place, Jordan Chiles, landed low and even came off the carpet.”

She added that she also tried to challenge her result, nevertheless it fell on deaf ears. “I wasn’t penalized. I appealed and the result remained the same. Chiles protested and changed her result. I had a much better exercise than she did.”

On August 7, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation submitted a proper request to CAS, citing concerns in regards to the investigation initiated by Chiles’ coaching staff.

“Aware of the negative impact on Ana Maria Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation aims to correct the mistakes made by the judges and restore the rights of our athletes,” the federation said in an announcement. According to to the Daily Mail.

The fallout from the election results has sparked widespread outrage in Romania, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announcing on Tuesday, August 6, that he would boycott the closing ceremony in protest at what he called a “scandalous situation.”

Ciolacu also promised that Romania would honour Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea as Olympic medalists and award them appropriate prizes if the governing body fails to achieve this.

On August 10, CAS ruled that the judging panel had erred in allowing an investigation that increased Chiles’ rating.

With the choice to strip her medal looming, USA Gymnastics says it’s “devastated” by a possible ruling in Romania’s favor that would strip Chiles of her medal over a minor technicality.

A 23-year-old gymnast has fallen victim to relentless cyberbullying, prompting USA Gymnastics to issue an announcement condemning such attacks.

“Throughout the appeal process, Jordan was subject to ongoing, completely unfounded and incredibly hurtful attacks on social media,” USA Gymastics said in an announcement.

Adding: “No athlete should be subjected to such treatment. We condemn these attacks and those who engage in, support or incite them. We commend Jordan for her integrity both on and off the court and continue to support her.”

We all the time stand behind Jordan Chiles! https://t.co/IdLwXHPtGr

— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) August 10, 2024

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The uncertainty of losing her medal took a toll on Chiles, who, within the face of the growing controversy, took a step back from social media to give attention to her mental health.

While the Romanian camp continues to give attention to its athletes, it has not addressed the wave of online harassment Chiles has faced because the protest.

Chiles’ older sister, Jazmin, also took to social media to express her disappointment over the entire situation and asked for prayers for Jordan and his family.

“Racism is real, it exists, it is alive and well” – Jazmin he wrote on her Instagram story. “Officially, 5 days later, they stripped her of one of her medals.”

Jazmin continued, “Not because she didn’t win, not because she was intoxicated, not because she overstepped her bounds. Not because she wasn’t good enough. But because the judges didn’t give her a hard time and forced her to do an investigation.”

She ended with a heartfelt message to her sister: “FOUR SECONDS. Her bronze was ripped off in 4 seconds, which would never have had to happen if the judges had done their job. I love you, sis. And I got you back no matter what.”

Chiles’ team captain, Simone Biles, also stepped in to show support for her teammate. After hearing the news, Biles posted a photograph of herself hugging Chiles with the message, “Sending you so much love. Jordan, keep your head up, Olympic champion! We love you!”

Biles also posted a quote from teammate Sunisa Lee calling for referees to be held accountable. The quote read: “All this talk about the athlete, but what about the referees?? Totally unacceptable. It’s horrible and I’m heartbroken for Jordan.”

The gymnast’s fans were also horrified.

“Shame on CAS and the hateful people who sent hateful messages. I am disgusted. I support you Jordan Chiles!” one he tweeted.

Other user X he wrote“I wake up from a nap to find Jordan Chiles stripped of her medal because the investigation was 4 seconds late? To say I’m disgusted is an understatement.”

“Jordan Chiles, we love you and you deserve this bronze,” one person wrote on Twitter. “This is so funny.”

Jordan Chiles we love you and also you deserve this bronze. This is so funny.

— HOOD VOGUE is sick of poverty (@keyon) August 10, 2024

“You’re taking away Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal for a mistake YOU MADE???!!!!” another person he tweeted.

Third comment he wrote“Adding a medal is one thing, but taking it away is cruel and just plain wrong.”

Chiles has already returned to the United States and is keeping a low profile. It stays to be seen what officials will do and whether the young gymnast might be required to return her bronze medal.

Chiles briefly addressed the controversy on social media. On Saturday afternoon, she posted several broken heart emojis on her Instagram Story and announced that she could be stepping away from social media for the sake of her mental health.