Ana Barbosu Reacts After Jordan Chiles Is Stripped of Olympic Bronze Medal

Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu is talking out after an Olympic medal controversy resulted in Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal being stripped from her and awarded as a substitute to Barbosu.

On Sunday, Aug. 11, forward of the 2024 Paris Olympics‘ closing ceremonies, Barbosu, 18, reacted on her Instagram Tales to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)’s ruling that Staff USA’s Chiles, 23, might want to return the bronze medal she earned through the Aug. 5 ground train ultimate.

“Sabrina [Maneca-Voinea], Jordan, my ideas are with you. I do know what you’re feeling, as a result of I have been via the identical. However I do know you will come again stronger,” Barbosu wrote, addressing Chiles and her fellow Staff Romania gymnast, who moved to fifth and fourth locations.

“I hope from deep of my coronary heart that on the subsequent Olympics, all three of us will share [the] similar podium,” she continued. “That is my true dream!”

“This case wouldn’t have existed if the individuals in cost had revered the regulation,” she concluded. “We, athletes are to not be blamed, and the hate directed to us is painful. I wished to finish this version of the Olympic Video games Paris 2024 within the spirit of Olympism, the true worth of the world.”

Chiles briefly spoke out on the controversy, writing on her Instagram Tales that she was going to be taking day off social media after the ruling in her favor was reversed. “I’m taking this time and eradicating myself from social media for my psychological well being, thanks,” she wrote.

In an interview with Good Morning America held earlier than the ruling was reversed, Chiles additionally mentioned that “proud” of Barbosu. “Ana Barbosu, she’s an incredible athlete, she’s finished superb issues inside her gymnastics as effectively,” Chiles mentioned. “I’m very pleased with myself however very pleased with her as effectively.”

PEOPLE beforehand reported that following the ladies’s ground ultimate occasion, Chiles initially completed fifth primarily based on the judges’ scoring, with a rating of 13.666, and the 2 Romanian rivals ending in third and fourth with scores of 13.700.

Quickly after, Chiles’ coach submitted an inquiry into the choice, arguing that her issue rating had been too low. Judges from the CAS agreed with the coach and up to date Chiles’ rating, which moved her as much as third place general, forward of Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea.

The Romanian Olympic committee contested the choice, and on Saturday, Aug. 10, the CAS determined to reinstate Chiles’ authentic rating, transferring her again to fifth place, and transferring each Romanian gymnasts up.

USA Gymnastics beforehand instructed PEOPLE in an electronic mail that the group was upset with the reversal of the ruling, and including that will probably be pushing for the Worldwide Olympic Committee to return Chiles’ medal.

“We’re devastated by the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport ruling relating to girls’s ground train. The inquiry into the Problem Worth of Jordan Chiles’ ground train routine was filed in good religion and, we believed, in accordance with FIG guidelines to make sure correct scoring,” the group wrote to PEOPLE.

The group additionally known as for an finish to the hateful messages being despatched to Chiles within the wake of the attraction and ruling.

“All through the attraction course of, Jordan has been topic to constant, completely baseless and very hurtful assaults on social media,” the group added to PEOPLE. “No athlete needs to be topic to such remedy. We condemn the assaults and people who have interaction, assist or instigate them. We commend Jordan for conducting herself with integrity each on and off the competitors ground, and we proceed to face by and assist her.”

Chiles mother, Gina Chiles, known as out folks of social media who accused her daughter of dishonest, writing that lots of the criticisms geared toward Jordan have been racist and “disgusting.”

By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free day by day e-newsletter to remain up-to-date on the most effective of what PEOPLE has to supply, from superstar information to driving human curiosity tales.

“The racist disgusting feedback are nonetheless occurring in 2024. I am drained of people that say it not exists,” Gina wrote in a publish on X (previously generally known as Twitter) on Friday, Aug. 9.

“My daughter is a extremely embellished Olympian with the most important coronary heart and a degree of sportsmanship that’s unmatched…and he or she’s being known as disgusting issues,” she added.
A lot of Chiles’ teammates, together with Simone Biles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey, in addition to her coach Cecile Landi — who initially filed the inquiry into her rating — have additionally proven their assist for the athlete amid the controversy, condemning the assaults in opposition to her.

“Jordan gained this bronze medal and didn’t steal something from anybody,” Landi wrote in a touch upon social media, after one other person accused Chiles of dishonest. “I merely did my job and fought for my athlete.”

To be taught extra about all of the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to folks.com to take a look at ongoing protection earlier than, throughout and after the video games. And join Going for Gold, our Olympics e-newsletter, to get the most important tales from the Video games delivered straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, starting July 26, on NBC and Peacock.