American Gymnast Jordan Chiles Refuses to Return Bronze Medal After Ruling Restores Medal to Romanian Gymnast

American gymnast Jordan Chiles has no plans to return her bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) restoring the podium to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu. Team USA intends to continue its pursuit of an appeal.

American gymnast Jordan Chiles has made the controversial decision to retain her bronze medal from the women's floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that restored the podium to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu. Team USA, under whose banner Chiles competed, plans to continue its pursuit of an appeal, leading to a potential legal battle.

Initially, Chiles finished fifth in the eight-woman final. However, Team USA coach Cecile Landi appealed her score, arguing that Chiles should receive credit for a maneuver that would boost her score by 0.1. The appeal was granted, and Chiles was elevated to the podium, displacing Barbosu from medal contention.

American Gymnast Jordan Chiles Refuses to Return Bronze Medal After Ruling Restores Medal to Romanian Gymnast

Chiles participated in the medal ceremony following the competition. However, Romania protested the decision to the CAS, arguing that the appeal was not made within the permitted one-minute time frame of when Chiles' score was first posted. The CAS ruled in Romania's favor, and on Friday, Barbosu was awarded the bronze medal.

According to USA Today's Christine Brennan, Chiles intends to keep her hardware despite Barbosu's medal ceremony. Brennan reported that "Chiles is in the United States and still has possession of the bronze medal that was awarded to her in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics."

American Gymnast Jordan Chiles Refuses to Return Bronze Medal After Ruling Restores Medal to Romanian Gymnast

U.S. officials have indicated that they plan to appeal the CAS ruling, alleging "significant procedural errors." The appeal would presumably go to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, potentially setting the stage for a drawn-out legal process.

Chiles herself has expressed her dissatisfaction with the CAS decision, calling it "unjust." Romania's appeal accused Team USA of appealing Chiles' score four seconds past the deadline. However, USA Gymnastics maintains that Landi's appeal came 13 seconds before the deadline and claims to have video evidence to support this claim.

American Gymnast Jordan Chiles Refuses to Return Bronze Medal After Ruling Restores Medal to Romanian Gymnast

The Associated Press (AP) reports that the CAS arbitration panel consisted of three judges, one each from Romania, the United States, and France. The panel ruled in favor of Barbosu, but the AP notes that the ruling was "not a unanimous decision."

The diplomatic implications of this controversy are yet to be fully understood. Romania, where gymnastics is a source of national pride, is likely to stand behind Barbosu and support her claim to the medal. The United States, with its long history of dominance in gymnastics, may be reluctant to cede the bronze medal it believes is rightfully Chiles'.

American Gymnast Jordan Chiles Refuses to Return Bronze Medal After Ruling Restores Medal to Romanian Gymnast

The appeal process could take several months, if not longer. In the meantime, the gymnastics community will be closely monitoring developments, with many expressing sympathy for both Chiles and Barbosu.

Ultimately, the outcome of this dispute will rest on the Swiss Federal Tribunal's ruling. If the appeal is successful, Chiles could potentially keep her bronze medal. If the appeal fails, Barbosu's medal status will be solidified, and Chiles will have to relinquish her medal. The gymnastics community's respect for both athletes and sportsmanship will play a crucial role in the resolution of this complex and controversial matter.