Jordan Chiles wasn’t left alone during her gymnastics plight after the Paris Olympics fiasco, from legends in the sport to the USA Gymnastics Federation and USOPC. The 23-year-old gymnast has been grappling with intense emotional stress since August 11, following the IOC’s directive for her to return her bronze medal. The situation has turned into a high-stakes drama, with everyone involved scurrying to ensure her hardware stays in the country. And now, it looks like someone has chanced upon another agenda for the USA to throw a wrench into the gears and take a stand against the FIG!

For retired Canadian gymnast Kyle Shewfelt, the American’s misfortune probably rings on a more personal level than most others. The star won gold at the 2004 Olympics in the men’s floor exercise, and maybe that’s why the whole fiasco resonates with him strongly. In his post on X, Kyle underscored why Jordan Chiles shouldn’t cede ground so easily and should instead go after the IOC and FIG with all guns blazing. For Shewfelt, it’s not just the tug-of-war involving the medal that these two authoritative bodies have unleashed upon Chiles.

“A reminder that the mistakes of FIG officials is the reason why an innocent athlete like @ChilesJordan has faced unprompted racially driven attacks,” slammed the veteran gymnast in his post, claiming that this is a good enough probable cause for Jordan to take legal action against the FIG. Taking a step further, Shewfelt also raised the demand that the International Gymnastics Federation apologize to Chiles for making her go through such an emotionally destabilizing experience. 

In his post, Kyle shared a statement by Chiles she made public on August 14. In her statement, Chiles thanked everyone who stood by her side during the trying times and went on to acknowledge that the verdict feels unjust and comes as a major blow. The gymnast also noted how the unprecedented racial attacks against her have been “wrong and extremely hurtful.”

Jordan Chiles went on to assert that this is just another challenge in the way, but won’t be enough to make her sway from the ideals and values that she holds in high regard. While the Washington native seemed confident that the people in power would eventually do the right thing and prioritize justice above all else, it looks like Shewfelt has his own suggestion on how to twist the arms of those in power to get them to acknowledge their own mistakes. And he’s not alone in this thought!

Jordan Chiles has solid backing in this fight!

Right after the IOC announced its decision to ask Jordan to return her floor exercise bronze, her sister Jazmin went on social media to thrash the FIG and the IOC. Jazmin didn’t hold back, suggesting that the entire controversy was rooted in racial discrimination against Jordan. She also questioned the legitimacy of the directive.

Jazmin pointedly asked, “Not because she didn’t win, not because she was drugged, not because she stepped out of bounds. Not because she wasn’t good enough. But because the judges failed to give her difficulty and forced an inquiry to be made,” she stressed that the drama was created unfairly. She even urged for proper measures to ensure Jordan’s hard work and achievements at the Olympics wouldn’t be rendered meaningless.

Jordan’s mother, Gina, was also furious with her daughter having to go through such emotional distress. To make Jordan’s case even stronger, gymnastics icon Nadia Comaneci also noted that such to-and-fro decisions can heavily impact the athletes’ mental well-being and suggested that all three stars involved in the tension should be awarded bronze to laud their individual bravado.

The thought was again supported by retired tennis star Patrick McEnroe, who also pleaded to the FIG and the IOC to go back and accept their role in the fiasco. “The judges on site made multiple mistakes. All three gymnasts should get the bronze, that’s what should happen,” said McEnroe in an interview with News Nation. Who do you think is in the right in this? Should Jordan go after the FIG like many of her well-wishers want her to? Or should she have faith that the right thing will happen at the end of the day? Drop by with your take on the matter with a comment!