Flavor Flav is making sure Jordan Chiles doesn’t leave the 2024 Paris Olympics empty-handed, even after a heartbreaking turn of events.
The 65-year-old rapper, widely known for his enthusiastic support of Team USA, particularly the water polo team during the Games, stepped up in a unique way to show his appreciation for the talented gymnast.
After Chiles was controversially stripped of her bronze medal from the gymnastics floor exercise final on August 5, Flavor Flav took it upon himself to create a special keepsake for her—a custom-made bronze clock necklace. The iconic musician shared a glimpse of his creation on social media, posting a video on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday, August 12.
In the video, the bronze clock, adorned with sparkling rhinestones inside and out, hangs from a white string. The clock hands are set to 12:00, a nod to Flavor Flav’s signature style. The video, shot in front of an American flag, shows the clock glinting as it rotates, a symbol of resilience and support.
“USA gonna Fight the Powers that be,,, in the meantime between time,,, Imma always a man of my word @ChilesJordan,” Flavor Flav captioned the post, referencing Public Enemy’s legendary track “Fight the Power,” which resonates with themes of resistance and empowerment.
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Gina Chiles, Jordan’s mother, responded to the heartfelt gesture, expressing gratitude on her daughter’s behalf. “Thank you. Means the world. She’s not on socials right now as you can imagine. I’ll share it with her,” she wrote, acknowledging the emotional weight of the situation.
Flavor Flav’s gesture came just a day after he publicly offered to create a custom piece for Chiles amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her medal. His thoughtful act is a testament to his commitment to supporting athletes who face adversity.
The turmoil for Jordan Chiles began when, on August 12, USA Gymnastics announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had denied her appeal to reinstate the bronze medal she had won in the floor exercise final. The medal was stripped after Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea challenged the initial scoring that placed Chiles ahead of them.
Chiles originally scored a 13.666, which initially placed her behind the Romanians, who scored 13.700. However, Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, successfully argued that her difficulty score should have been higher, particularly for a leap involving a 540-degree split turn. As a result, Chiles’ score was revised to 13.766, earning her the bronze medal and a spot on the podium alongside her teammate Simone Biles and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
Unfortunately, CAS later determined that Landi’s appeal had been submitted four seconds too late, leading to the revocation of Chiles’ medal. Despite the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s (USOPC) efforts to appeal the decision, including presenting video evidence that they believed showed the appeal was timely, CAS upheld the ruling. Consequently, Ana Barbosu, 18, was awarded the bronze medal instead.
In response, USA Gymnastics issued a statement expressing their deep disappointment and their intent to explore every possible legal avenue to rectify the situation. “USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented,” the statement read. “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.”
As the legal battle continues, Flavor Flav’s bronze clock stands as a symbol of solidarity and recognition, a reminder that even in the face of disappointment, Jordan Chiles’ achievements and resilience are celebrated.
