“I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow not just to me but to everyone who has championed my journey.” This is what Jordan Chiles said in her Instagram statement after being stripped of her bronze medal. The gymnast was awarded it on the floor final after an appeal by the US team. However, the decision was reversed, and the medal was returned to its original recipient, Ana Barbosu.

This is because the IOC claimed that the appeal filed by the US wasn’t done promptly. The decision created quite an uproar in the community, as many felt that the decision was heavily unjust to Jordan. The gymnast herself refused to give her medal back, despite Barbosu being given the medal in a ceremony in Romania. But now, amidst the controversy, Jordan seems to have found support from an unexpected place.

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum released ten new limited edition bobbleheads of US Olympians and Paralympians. This included Jordan Chiles. However, what caught everyone’s attention was that her model was wearing two medals, one gold and one bronze. This is despite officially winning only one Olympic medal in the team final. Thus, it seems like the National Bobblehead Museum recognizes her bronze medal victory at the floor final. While this is an interesting development, the museum is not the first one to pledge support to Jordan since the incident.

After being stripped of the medal, Jordan Chiles announced she was taking a break from social media. She also talked about how she had been subjected to racial trolling. She said, “To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful.” The gymnast then concluded the statement, saying she worked very hard for her country and was proud of her achievements.

Simone Biles was the first to write on her Instagram story, telling Jordan to keep her chin up. “Sending you so much love, Jordan, keep your chin up, Olympic champ! We love you!” Suni Lee also wrote on her story, questioning the integrity of the judges and then telling Jordan that she’ll have her back forever. She reiterated her support in an interview with Glamour released on October 3rd, where she joked that if the IOC ordered Chiles to give her medal back, Suni would take it and throw the piece in the ocean. However, amidst all of this, it seems like Jordan Chiles is moving on from the fiasco.

Jordan Chiles’ life post-Paris Olympics

Despite going through such an emotional rollercoaster since the Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles has publicly appeared in numerous events. First, she attended the New York Fashion Week alongside Suni Lee. She also threw the first pitch at a New York Mets game. After that, Jordan also presented an award at the VMAs. The spectacular catalog didn’t end there, as she was spotted in a Seattle Seahawks game where she had the honor of raising the iconic 12th Man Flag.

All these appearances give a glimpse that Jordan Chiles was gradually coming to achieve the status of sports hero. That became very apparent when she appeared in the stands to watch the WNBA match between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. Indeed, when seen on the big screen, the crowd went cuckoo with a humongous cheer for her, which reflected the very significance attached to her by them.

Now, all these appearances have finally come full circle, as she is all set to get back to gymnastics. Jordan Chiles revealed that she’s going back to the UCLA Bruins for the 2025 season. She has finally put behind all the controversy and is ready to resume her collegiate career. She said, “I am returning to UCLA to represent the Bruins for my two remaining years of college.” Jordan, who currently sports two NCAA golds and one silver, will look to add to that in these last years as she starts looking to book a place at the LA Olympics. While the fiasco of the bronze medal has troubled Jordan Chiles, all that now seems to be history.