Olympic Committee Demands Jordan Chiles Return Bronze Medal, But Public Pushes Back

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has demanded that American gymnast Jordan Chiles return her bronze medal, sparking strong reactions from both U.S. Olympic officials and the public. The IOC decided that the medal should go to Romania’s Ana Barbosu, who originally finished fourth in the event.

This decision came after an appeal by U.S. coach Cecile Landi to adjust Chiles’ score was denied because it was submitted just four seconds too late. Despite this, many people online believe that Chiles was mistreated and have shown their support.

Some have argued that Chiles was at a disadvantage because she was the last to perform in the event, which they see as a flaw in the system set by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Initially, Chiles received a score of 13.666, placing her fifth, before the appeal was made.

The situation has also sparked conversations about how Black athletes are often treated unfairly. Many on social media have accused the IOC of racism, suggesting that seeing three Black women on the podium was too much for the committee.

“This was too much for them. Seeing three Black women celebrating together was hard for them to handle. Jordan Chiles will always be an Olympic medalist to me,” wrote one user on X, referencing the moment when Chiles and her teammate Simone Biles honored Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who won the gold in the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor event.

Like let’s forget the politics, and just focus on the optics for a second. The IOC are now taking away *this* moment from history. The only all-black podium in gymnastics history. pic.twitter.com/NHl7W90ORH

— B. William Shakespeare ✍🏾⚔️ (@WilliamRichJr) August 11, 2024

Others have pointed out that this is what happens when Black and Brown athletes start succeeding in spaces usually dominated by white people—rules get changed to push them out.

On TikTok, users have been explaining the judges’ mistake and supporting Chiles. One TikTok user said, “The athlete shouldn’t be blamed for this. Jordan didn’t do anything wrong.”

Despite the support, there has also been racist backlash against Chiles, with some people demanding she give back the medal. Her teammate, Suni Lee, criticized the judges on Instagram, calling the situation “completely unacceptable.” Simone Biles also showed support, saying, “Sending you so much love, Jordan. Keep your chin up, Olympic champ! We love you!”

Jordan Chiles’ mother, Gina, also defended her daughter on social media, praising her achievements and sportsmanship. “My daughter is a highly decorated Olympian with the biggest heart and unmatched sportsmanship,” she wrote.

Jordan Chiles responded to the situation by saying on Instagram that she would be taking a break from social media for her mental health. The U.S. Olympic Committee has said they will pursue an appeal to make sure Chiles gets the “recognition she deserves,” according to a statement shared by NBC.