Jordan Chiles Olympic medal is at risk after rival country protests final results

The Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee is issuing a review of one of their gymnast’s scores after a buzzy decision ousted her from winning a medal in yesterday’s women’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise final.

During yesterday’s match, Romanian athletes Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea both lost to American gymnast Jordan Chiles after Team USA requested an appeal of Chiles’ difficulty score.

The judges corrected Chiles’ D-score from a 5.8 to a 5.9 which ultimately moved her up from fifth to third place and earned her the bronze medal, which Barbosu previously thought she had won.

In the midst of the aftermath, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee is now contesting a decision that saw Voinea receive a 0.100 point deduction.

The Romanian gymnast presumably received the deduction for stepping out of bounds, but the Committee is requesting for a review of the scoring.

Mihai Covaliu, the president of the Romanian Olympic Committee, sent a formal letter of protest to the International Gymnastics Federation amidst the divisive ruling.

Their letter reads: “With respect to Olympic values, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee forwards this address, by which it respectfully requests you to order the re-analysis [of] the decision making factors of the case of the Romanian athlete Sabrina Maneca Voinea regarding the score given to the execution of the exercise in the floor final, contested on Monday, August 5, 2024.

“We make this request based on the care that the International Olympic Committee and the entire world sports movement gives to the athlete.

“The way of assessing the score awarded and the refusal to fully present the reasons/evidence for the rejection of the appeal submitted within the deadline provided by the regulation brings serious damage both to the image of international gymnastics but especially affects the athlete, endangering his mental health.

Chiles could lose her bronze medal if their appeal is accepted. (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

“The media coverage of the case of the Romanian sportswoman at the international level, her public declaration to give up practicing this sport as a result of today’s decision morally obliges the decision-makers to reanalyze, substantiate and communicate the final decision.

“The balanced and objective policy that [the International Gymnastics Federation] promotes gives us confidence in the fair resolution of the presented case.”

Chiles won bronze with a score of 13.766.

After Voinea was issued a score deduction, her new score posted was 13.700.

If the International Gymnastics Federation accepts the Romanian Olympic Committee’s request, it’s possible Voinea’s score could change and she could re-earn that 0.100 lost and bring her score back up to a 13.800. This would be enough to bump Chiles out of bronze.