Jordan Chiles expressed her devastation after losing her Olympic bronze medal due to a timing technicality, which led to her being subjected to racially motivated abuse online. Chiles initially won bronze in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics after an appeal, but the Romanian Olympic Committee successfully argued that the appeal was submitted four seconds late. This decision resulted in Chiles dropping to fifth place and Ana Barbosu being awarded the bronze.
Despite the setback, Chiles remains determined to fight for her medal and has received support from USA Gymnastics. The situation has drawn attention to the mental toll it has taken on the gymnasts involved, with former Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci advocating for their protection.
The controversy surrounding Chiles’s medal loss has brought to light potential conflicts of interest, as the head of the Cas panel had previously done legal work for the Romanian government. While Chiles hopes for justice, the rarity of appeals being overturned by the Swiss Federal Tribunal suggests a challenging road ahead.
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