Jordan Chiles’ time at the 2024 Olympics was anything but straightforward. After a rather glum Tokyo Olympics, Chiles was all set to finally win an individual medal. The time she took to hone her skills sure showed during qualification when she ranked fourth overall. But the “two-per-country” rule meant she missed the all-around final, with Suni Lee and Simone Biles moving ahead. Chiles despite placing fourth on the vault, couldn’t advance because of the same rule. A cruel twist, right? But perhaps it was a foreshadowing of something more cruel that awaited!

At the Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles went on to win the Team Gold and a Bronze in floor exercise. Unfortunately, her Bronze was taken away. And questions were raised about her coach’s inquiry, which had initially increased her scores. The timing controversy led to the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturning the medal decision, reinstating Romanian Ana Bărbosu as the bronze winner. And just like that, Chiles lost her medal. Now, bureaucracy has trapped the Medal and Chiles in a spiral. Nevertheless, the fight continues. But here’s an interesting development! Much like Jordan Chiles, a few other gymnasts are also questioning their federations and their decisions!

Three Ukrainian gymnasts join the fight!

Seems like Jordan Chiles, with her fighting spirit, has soiled the ground and given many the courage to step forward. Recently, three Ukrainian gymnasts have come forward to spill the tea about the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation. Nazar Chepurny, Volodymyr Kostiuk, and Ivan Rudi have revealed some truths. Imagine training for years only to be told, ‘No, you’re not going.’ Sounds frustrating, right?

Well, turns out that behind the facade of bureaucracy, that is exactly what has been happening. Chepurny has spoken out about the federation canceling his World Cup trip to Hungary. It was a decision made for him by Stella Zakharova, the vice-president of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation. But the federation also barred others!

Kostiuk also openly revealed that the federation barred him from the World Cup. It was said that the Hungary event wasn’t deemed “appropriate.” But it is not just for the Hungary event! The federation also prohibited Rudi from traveling to Germany.  So why did the federation restrict them? Well, there is some history and truth to the restriction. In 2022, after the unfortunate violence that broke out in the Ukraine region, the International Gymnastics Federation made a decision. However, earlier this year, they allowed these athletes to compete under strict neutral conditions.

Federation takes the cop-out route with accusations!

The Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation is not new to accusations. It was only recently that another Ukranian gymnast spoke about the issues. A few days back, Oleg Vernyayev, Ukraine’s Olympic champion, went on to call out Zakharova. He called her tenure full of “obstacles, blocked initiatives, and corruption.” But that’s not all. He said something that the three gymnasts also did!

Oleg went on to talk about how he had to fight tooth and nail just to attend competitions. And even often had to bypass Stella to appeal directly to higher officials. Also, he mentioned financial scandals! Vernyayev directly alleged that officials were misusing funds meant for athletes. But despite all the screams, the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation has just one response.

Stella Zakharova, the accused vice president, has denied all claims. She firmly denies imposing any bans or blocks. But does that hold up? If history is testimony, it is not the first time a federation has been accused of unfair treatment. This seems like a global pattern. If such stories continue to pile up, how long can the federations evade accountability? Jordan Chiles’ controversy might have started the conversation, but it has open a can of worms and encouraged other athletes to speak up too!