“Give Back the Stolen Medal”: Jordan Chiles Reveals Unheard Details of Olympics Controversy Involving Romania

Being Black in sports often means facing challenges that others don’t see, and gymnastics is no exception. Even the greatest, like Simone Biles, have had to confront racism, so it’s no surprise that Jordan Chiles faced it too! Well, growing up in Oregon, Jordan was a lively, energetic kid who fell in love with gymnastics at the age of six. But by the time she turned seven, she began to notice the painful differences in how she was treated by judges. “The first time I realized I wasn’t going to be treated like a typical athlete was when the judging came into play,” she said. That realization came early, but despite it, she kept pushing forward.

It wasn’t until the Paris Olympics, though, that racism hit her in the hardest way at the worst possible time when she couldn’t ignore it. We all remember the bronze medal controversy, right? But what most people didn’t see was the silent battle she fought behind the scenes. In her memoir, I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams, Jordan opens up about what happened, not just on the competition floor but in the brutal aftermath.

Let’s rewind to that chaotic moment in the Paris Olympics. Jordan finished her floor routine with a score of 13.666, placing just behind Romania’s Ana Barbosu, who held onto third place with 13.700. But then, Team USA filed a score inquiry, and after a review, Jordan’s start value was increased by one-tenth of a point, bumping her score up to 13.766—just enough to win the bronze. Sounds fair, right? Not to everyone.

Ana, who had already been celebrating with her country’s flag, was suddenly out of the medals—and just like that, the tears started flowing. She left the arena devastated, and the outrage that followed was just as intense. Jordan Chiles should have been celebrating her hard-earned bronze, but instead, she was blindsided by a wave of criticism that hit like a ton of bricks. And then came the real bombshell—Romania wasn’t just upset; they were convinced they had been robbed.

When gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci weighed in, claiming her country had been unfairly denied its rightful medal, the backlash exploded. Comaneci even slammed the judges for “playing with athletes’ mental health and emotions,” adding fuel to the fire. And that was enough for people to believe. Suddenly, Jordan’s moment of triumph was overshadowed by attacks. Her social media, once filled with love and congratulations, turned into a storm of hate messages and racial slurs from around the world. What should have been a celebration became a nightmare.

The hate Jordan Chiles received wasn’t just criticism—it was brutal, personal, and downright disgusting. Just take a look at some of the comments she shared in her memoir. “SNEAKY BLACK give the medal back to the Romanian gymnast… she deserves it.” Under a photo of the all-Black podium, someone wrote, “This is an example of fake empowerment and inclusivity. What’s the problem with giving the bronze to the Romanian girl who deserved it? Oh yeah, doesn’t fit the agenda of inclusivity and it won’t be BlAcK GiRl MaGic. She is white.”

And if that wasn’t bad enough, the insults got even uglier. “You are a funny ape lover.” “Yes, you’re a n-g and you were rewarded for it, we know that.” “Give back the stolen medal!” “Cry me a river.” “GET A JOB N—-!”– It was the kind of hate that would crush anyone, and it came flooding in overnight. What made it worse? The timing.

Jordan Chiles fights tooth and nail for justice after medal uproar

The medal ceremony had already happened! In gymnastics, once the medals are awarded, that’s usually it—no backsies. But despite that, the public treated Jordan Chiles like she had personally swiped the medal off the 18-year-old’s neck. The backlash was so intense that her mom had to step in. “Delete the apps,” Gina Chiles told the 23-year-old. And she did. “I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health,” Jordan posted on Instagram. But stepping away from Instagram didn’t make the pain disappear.

Even a trip to Disneyland Paris—a place that should be all about magic and happiness—couldn’t lift the weight off her shoulders. And then, right after that, she had to put on a smile and face the cameras for a media tour, pretending everything was fine when, inside, she was still reeling from the worst kind of hate. Then came August 10—the moment that took everything to another level.

Her bronze medal was stripped away as judges reverted to the original score, erasing her victory. Jordan Chiles lost her appeal and made it clear—this felt personal. “The biggest thing that was taken from me was the recognition of who I was. Not just my sport, but the person I am,” she said at the event, according to People. “To me, everything that has gone on is not about the medal, it’s about my skin color.” But if there’s one thing about Jordan, it’s that she doesn’t back down from a fight. She’s still pushing for justice, and whether or not she’ll get her medal back. Well, only time will tell.