Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles has made it clear—despite an ongoing legal battle over her 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medal, she still physically owns it and continues to fight for justice.
In a recent interview on Candace Parker’s podcast, The Trophy Room, Chiles opened up about the controversy, her emotional journey, and how she’s moving forward.
Chiles’ Perspective: “It’s Still a Bronze in My Heart”
Chiles’ disputed bronze medal stems from the women’s floor event at the Paris Olympics. Initially, she placed fifth, but a last-minute challenge from her coach, Cecile Landi, resulted in a 0.10-point increase, bumping her to third place and knocking Romania’s Ana Bărbosu to fourth.
However, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that Landi’s challenge was submitted after the one-minute deadline. CAS ruled in favor of Romania, and Bărbosu was officially recognized as the bronze medalist—even receiving her medal in a separate ceremony in Bucharest.
Despite this, Chiles remains steadfast in her belief that she rightfully earned the medal:
“Whatever happens with the bronze, it’s still a bronze in my head. It’s still a bronze in my heart. I still have the medal if anybody is asking.”
Advertisement
Chiles acknowledged the mental toll the controversy has taken but refused to let it define her:
“I can’t really continue on my life carrying something so small but so big in the world in my heart for the rest of my life. So now I’m enjoying life. I’m at UCLA. I’m doing everything that I can. I get to enjoy the support now.”
Advertisement
Legal Battle Continues
Chiles and USA Gymnastics (USAG) have challenged CAS’ ruling in the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, arguing that:
- Landi’s challenge was submitted on time, with video evidence supporting their case.
- CAS violated Chiles’ right to be heard by dismissing the video evidence.
- The CAS panel president, Hamid G. Gharavi, has a potential conflict of interest, as he has represented Romania in legal matters for nearly a decade.
Both USAG and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) are backing Chiles, filing additional appeals in support of her case.
Chiles’ Emotional Journey & Future Plans
Chiles admitted that last summer, she struggled to accept the overwhelming support from fans, as she felt she didn’t deserve it. Now, she has embraced the love of her supporters:
“I love it. Thank you guys all for the support. Thank you guys for always being there. Thank you guys for giving me this ability to enjoy my sport again, enjoy competing again, and enjoy being able to stand on my own two feet and be proud of what I’ve accomplished.”
Advertisement
Chiles, who previously won team gold in Paris and team silver in Tokyo 2021, is currently competing for UCLA in college gymnastics. While she remains undecided about competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, she feels rejuvenated and passionate about gymnastics again.
“Yes, I’m going to continue to fight, but I can only fight for so long. I know what my right is, and I know what I’ve done to create this amazing ability to be this two-time Olympian.”
Advertisement
Final Verdict Still Pending
For now, Chiles still physically possesses the bronze medal, and the final ruling from the Swiss Federal Supreme Court is pending. No matter the outcome, she remains confident in her legacy:
“I made history, and I will always continue to make history. I followed the rules. My coach followed the rules. We did everything that was totally, completely right.”
Advertisement
As her legal fight continues, one thing is clear—Jordan Chiles is not backing down.