As the days tick by, the cast of characters in the unfolding Jordan Chiles’ Paris Olympics saga keeps growing. But, lucky for the American gymnast, most of these new faces are rallying to her side, offering solace in the wake of her loss. It all began with the legendary Aly Raisman stepping up to bat.

The five-time Olympic medalist didn’t hold back, declaring, “I’m so devastated for her.” Raisman went on to say, “I hope that things change and she gets to keep her medal because it’s not right. It’s so disappointing to me because I feel like it goes against the integrity of the sport and of the Olympics.” Her words offered Jordan a much-needed boost after the whirlwind of controversies that erupted on August 10. And just when it seemed like things couldn’t get more interesting, another giant in the gymnastics world threw her hat into the ring.

This time, it’s former world champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist Svetlana Boginskaya, who recently voiced her opinion on Chiles’ right to keep her Olympic medal despite being stripped of her rank in the floor exercise final in Paris. Boginskaya didn’t mince words, stating, “Jordan Chiles should keep her medal that she got awarded officially.” But does this mean Ana Barbosu, the Romanian gymnast who claimed the medal after the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) ruled in her favor, should just hand it over to Jordan?

The drama all started when Chiles’ score was adjusted, bumping her up to claim the bronze. Team Romania, however, wasn’t about to let that slide and took the case to CAS, challenging the timing of Team USA’s inquiry at the jury’s table.

Team Romania filed a challenge with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Their appeal centered on the timing of Team USA’s inquiry submission, arguing that it failed to meet the critical 1-minute deadline required by competition regulations. CAS upheld Team Romania’s complaint, leading to a revised ranking that elevated Ana Barbosu back to third place, while Jordan Chiles was demoted to fifth. Notably, Team Romania’s intention was not to see Chiles lose her medal but to ensure that the competition adhered to established rules and fair play.

Interestingly, Team Romania wasn’t out for blood; they didn’t want Chiles to lose her medal but rather sought a fair and respectful resolution. Enter Svetlana Boginskaya, who’s been a strong voice in this saga. Boginskaya, the 51-year-old gymnastics veteran, made her stance clear: “Ana should keep her medal that was awarded to her in Romania.” And she didn’t stop there. She also stood up for another Romanian gymnast, Sabrina Voinea, who found herself in a similar situation during the same final.

Voinea and Barbosu ended up with identical scores in the floor exercise final, but a tiebreaker ultimately placed Barbosu in third. The real controversy, though, revolves around Voinea’s 0.1 penalty, which Team Romania claims was a blatant judging error. Boginskaya backed this claim, stating, “Sabrina should receive her medal for judging error.”

Meanwhile, Jordan Chiles has been getting some much-needed support from her ‘big sister’ Simone Biles, who’s been dishing out plenty of motivational words to her ‘hype woman.’

Jordan Chiles wins hearts even as she slips in the medal standings!

In a remarkable ceremony, Ana Barbosu received her Paris Olympic bronze medal in Romania. Amidst the celebrations, she expressed her thoughts on the two gymnasts who also faced challenges: Jordan Chiles and her Romanian teammate, Sabrina Voinea. “I can’t help but think about Sabrina and Jordan right now,” she shared. With a sigh, Barbosu added, “I want to believe that the day will come when all three of us will receive a bronze medal.”

Meanwhile, Sabrina Voinea is still awaiting a resolution to the ongoing dispute. After CAS dismissed her appeal regarding the penalty, she has sought recourse with the Swiss Supreme Court. Team USA is considering a similar path for Jordan Chiles. Despite the turmoil, Simone Biles has been a vocal supporter of Jordan, praising her resilience.

Paris 2024 Olympics – Artistic Gymnastics – Women’s Floor Exercise Victory Ceremony – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – August 05, 2024. Bronze medallist Jordan Chiles of United States reacts with her medal next to silver medallist Simone Biles of United States. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

In an exclusive interview with People magazine, the seven-time Olympic champion stated, “We saw what you did. And it’s an unfortunate circumstance because something like this has never happened before and it’s truly a shame, but we wish all three girls could get the medal and unfortunately in gymnastics that’s not the case.” Biles is optimistic about a positive outcome and is actively supporting Jordan through this process.

Simone continued, “Do we think they did the correct procedures to come to this ruling? No. That’s really why we want that justice for Jordan and why we’re going to keep supporting her and uplifting her.” This backing is proving advantageous for Chiles, as she pushes through the challenges with renewed vigor. What do you think of Svetlana Boginskaya’s words of support for Jordan? Share your thoughts in the comments below!