Tita Gonzalez

Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal victory at the Paris Olympics should have been a proud occasion. Instead, when the International Olympic Committee ordered her to return the medal, it developed into a controversy that contrasted Chiles’ effort and performance. The decision to remove it after the fact was not only unfair, but it also exposed how technicalities and time issues overshadow an athlete’s talent in the gymnastics world. Jordan Chiles deserves her medal back.

In gymnastics, scores are often determined by small details, making them subjective and specific. According to The New York Times, USA Gymnastics filed an appeal, claiming that judging flaws influenced the final score. However, the appeal was rejected because it was filed just four seconds past the deadline. This caused Jordan Chiles to be stripped of her bronze medal.  The Olympic officials’ decision to remove her medal was a hasty decision based on insignificant technicalities that should not overpower a fairly made evaluation of Chiles’ performance.

According to The Guardian, the ruling sparked doubts that the timing of the appeal was a main factor in the judges’ overall ruling. Punishing an athlete over a minor procedural delay rather than a substantial fault in their performance is blatantly unfair.  

Chiles should not have had to return her medal due to operational difficulties beyond her control. She followed the same rules as every other athlete, while her coaches were the ones in the wrong. The appeals procedure in this instance was defective. However, punishing Chiles for it tells athletes that their successes can be overturned at any time due to internal disagreements, which is both unjust and discouraging. Instead of taking Chiles’ medal away, the focus should be on refining the judging and appeals process to assure future fairness. 

Her medal was later awarded to the bronze medalist, Romanian Ana Barbosuan, resulting in an outcome that completely diminished the significance of Chiles’ performance. Not only did this decision take away from her achievement, but it also made Barbosuan’s success less impressive due to the judges questioning if the Romanian athlete even deserved the medal in the first place.

After the appeal was denied, Chiles took to Instagram, expressing her frustration: “I’m speechless. This decision feels deeply unfair and is a huge disappointment, not just for me but for everyone who has supported me along the way.” That medal symbolized not only her dedication and perseverance but also a personal victory on the Olympic stage. Having such an important achievement removed can be extremely dehumanizing. 

Jordan Chiles should have her medal reinstated. Taking it away after it had been granted was a disservice to her and the spirit of fair competition. Athletes should not be concerned that their hard-earned triumphs may be taken away due to bureaucratic conflicts. If the Olympic Games are to represent the highest levels of sportsmanship, they must uphold the choices made during the tournament, unless clear evidence of wrongdoing is shown. Chiles’ performance earned her that medal, and it’s time to right this wrong by giving it back to her.