Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu received her bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.
"I did not expect the medal to be so heavy, but I would wear it day and night if this is what it takes to have it," Barbosu said afterwards, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).
The medal was originally given to U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles for her floor routine after an inquiry from her coach, Cecile Landi, led to her score being increased. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later voided the appeal and the International Olympic Committee required Chiles to return her bronze medal.
Chiles' score improved to 13.766 following the initial inquiry, although it was moved back down to 13.666 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the request occurred after the one-minute timeframe.
USA Gymnastics submitted video evidence that the request occurred within one minute after the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee released plans to appeal the ruling.
However, the arbitration panel did not reconsider the decision asking Chiles to return the bronze medal.
"We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan," USA Gymnastics said in a statement, per the Associated Press.
As for Barbosu, she said that the controversy surrounding the medal was "saddening" and that "we expected the referees and staff at the Olympics to do their job properly" (via ESPN).
She was also sympathetic to Chiles and the U.S. gymnasts after the medal reallocation.
"I am thinking of them even if today I got the medal," Barbosu said.
Chiles still earned some hardware in Paris, as she took home a gold medal after the United States team won the all-around competition.
Read 26 Comments
Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation