In a heartfelt and memorable moment at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, rapper Flavor Flav and U.S. Olympian Jordan Chiles shared the stage, turning an otherwise glitzy evening into a symbol of support and resilience. The two were the first presenters of the night, but what captivated audiences was Flav’s gesture to recognize Chiles’ recent struggles involving her 2024 Olympic bronze medal.
As they stood together on stage, Flav took a moment to acknowledge the controversy surrounding Chiles, who had been stripped of her Olympic bronze medal due to a technical ruling. To make up for the loss, Flav surprised the 23-year-old gymnast with a unique gift—an iconic bronze clock necklace, similar to the ones he famously wears.
“I know they’re trying to take your medal away from you, but you know what? I got you something that they can’t take away from you,” said Flavor Flav, 65, as he handed her the bronze clock bling. “That’s why I wanted to turn this into an Olympic moment, Jordan.” He went on to share that he had also secured her prize money, which all Olympic athletes receive for medaling.
Chiles, visibly moved by the gesture, could only respond with, “Wow, I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much.” The moment stood out not only because of the lighthearted camaraderie between Flav and Chiles but also because it underscored the ongoing battle the Olympian has faced to reclaim her medal.
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Last month, Chiles was stripped of her bronze medal in the floor exercise after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) retroactively adjusted her score. The ruling came after the inquiry that improved her score by a tenth of a point was found to have occurred just seconds past the deadline. The decision knocked Chiles from third place to fifth, awarding the bronze to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu and placing Barbosu’s teammate Sabrina Maneca-Voinea in fourth.
Despite the setback, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is not backing down. They have since announced their intent to appeal the ruling, citing critical errors in both the initial scoring by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the CAS appeal process.
“We firmly believe that Jordan rightfully earned the bronze medal,” the USOPC stated, “and there were critical errors that need to be addressed.” They highlighted that they were not given adequate notice or time to challenge the CAS decision effectively, preventing them from presenting their case in full.
Flavor Flav’s gesture didn’t go unnoticed by Chiles’ supporters, including her teammates Simone Biles and Suni Lee. Biles took to Instagram to send Chiles love, writing, “Keep your chin up, Olympic champ! We love you!” Lee also expressed her outrage, calling the situation “completely unacceptable” and voicing her support for Chiles: “You will ALWAYS be an Olympic champion.”
Behind the scenes, Flav has long been a supporter of the U.S. Women’s gymnastics team and other Olympic sports. In August, he explained the reasoning behind the custom clock chain. “The bronze clock I made for Jordan Chiles is a gift of love and appreciation,” he told USA Today. “It’s a symbol that says, ‘We recognize who you are, and we appreciate you.’ Jordan performed her heart out for that medal, and she rightfully won it.”
The Olympic medal controversy has sparked widespread discussion about the fairness of gymnastics judging and the treatment of athletes.
In an interview at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit, Chiles admitted that the ordeal left her feeling marginalized, not just as an athlete, but as a person. “It wasn’t just about the medal,” Chiles explained. “It was about the recognition of who I am, and I felt like that was taken away from me. It’s about my skin color, my identity as an athlete, and the struggles I’ve faced to get here.”
Chiles acknowledged that the process had been emotionally draining. “At first, it was really hard to take that in because my heart was broken,” she said. However, the young gymnast is determined to keep moving forward, noting that her contribution to history cannot be undone. “I made history, and I’ll continue to make history. I followed the rules, my coach followed the rules, and we did everything right. I’m going to shine bright because no one can dim my star.”
Despite the challenges, Jordan Chiles continues to inspire countless athletes and fans with her strength and resilience.
With support from figures like Flavor Flav and her gymnastics teammates, Chiles is determined to stay focused and keep pushing forward, regardless of the outcome of her ongoing fight to reclaim her medal.
