Jordan Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, is strongly defending her athlete against allegations that Chiles cheated to win the bronze medal during the floor final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The controversy arose after Chiles’ score was adjusted following an inquiry, which moved her from fifth place to third, ultimately securing her a spot on the podium.
The issue gained attention when an Instagram user commented on Landi’s post on August 6, accusing the coaching team of manipulating the outcome.
The comment suggested, “the coaches cheated so Jordan could get a medal! What a coincidence.” Landi, who also coaches Team USA’s Simone Biles, quickly responded, firmly stating that Chiles “EARNED that bronze medal.”
Landi provided a detailed explanation, noting that Chiles’ maximum possible difficulty score on the floor routine was a 5.9. In both the qualifications and team finals, Chiles received a difficulty score of 5.8, which the team accepted without protest because they recognized that not all elements were executed perfectly. However, during the floor final on August 5, Landi believed Chiles performed better and, given that Chiles was in fifth place with nothing to lose, decided to submit an inquiry regarding the score.
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Initially, Chiles was awarded a score of 13.666, placing her fifth overall. After Landi’s challenge, the judges reviewed the difficulty score and increased it by one-tenth of a point, raising her total score and moving her into third place.
This adjustment pushed Romanian gymnast Ana B?rbosu, who had been in contention for the bronze medal, down to fourth place.
According to the Associated Press, score inquiries are a routine part of gymnastics competitions, and scores can be adjusted either up or down based on the results of such inquiries. Despite this standard procedure, the outcome was met with emotional reactions, particularly from B?rbosu, who had already been celebrating her bronze medal before the adjustment was made.
She was seen holding the Romanian flag in triumph, only to drop it in shock when the new scores were announced, leading her to leave the floor in tears.
Landi admitted that she was initially skeptical about the inquiry being accepted and was surprised when it was. She expressed empathy for B?rbosu, describing the situation as “so sad and heartbreaking” to witness. Nevertheless, Landi stood by her actions, emphasizing that her primary responsibility is to advocate for her athletes.
“Jordan won this bronze medal and didn’t steal anything from anyone,” Landi stated. “I simply did my job and fought for my athlete.” She urged the public to respect the outcome of the competition and to avoid dragging Chiles down because of their disagreement with the result.
The controversy didn’t end there. On August 6, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee announced via Facebook that they had sent a letter of protest to the International Gymnastics Federation, requesting a re-evaluation of the inquiry regarding Sabrina Voinea Maneca’s floor routine. The statement also addressed B?rbosu’s bronze medal loss, calling her “a victim in the context of awarding grades and accepting appeals.”
Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu added fuel to the fire by announcing in a Facebook post on August 6 that he would boycott the closing ceremony in protest of what he described as a “scandalous situation.”
“Our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonorable manner,” Ciolacu wrote. “To withdraw a medal earned for honest work on the basis of an appeal, which neither the coaches nor the top technicians understand, is totally unacceptable!” He expressed his dismay at the decision, stating that he would not argue but instead protest through his absence, decrying the “blatant injustice” done to the Romanian athletes.
Ciolacu also declared that both B?rbosu and fifth-place finisher Maneca-Voinea would be recognized as Olympic medalists by the Romanian government, underscoring the depth of the discontent surrounding the event.
As the dust settles, Chiles and her coach Landi are standing firm, maintaining that the bronze medal was rightfully earned, while the controversy surrounding the decision continues to resonate on the international stage.
