Jordan Chiles and Flavor Flav on the MTV VMAs stage was the unlikely duo the world never knew it needed! The rapper couldn’t pass up the chance to celebrate his favorite gymnast‘s Olympic achievement, and he brought more than just energy—he brought a medal! After Chiles’ heartbreaking floor exercise finals at the Paris Olympics, where her ranking took a hit thanks to some controversial judging, Flavor Flav promised her a special prize. Tonight, he delivered.

UBS Arena, typically home to music legends, became the site of a unique crossover—an Olympian receiving a bronze medal from a hip-hop icon. Flavor Flav, a die-hard Chiles fan, made the moment even sweeter, telling her, “I got you something that they can’t take away from you.” Chiles, caught off guard and beaming, simply responded, “I don’t even know what to say here.” And just like that, after a month of waiting, the iconic bronze clock necklace found its rightful owner.

Back in August, when the gymnastics world was left reeling from the CAS’s decision to drop Jordan Chiles from the women’s floor exercise finals, Flav stepped in. The rapper had been a vocal supporter of Team USA throughout the Olympics, even financially backing the women’s water polo team. So, when Jordan Chiles’ Olympic dream was shaken by that ranking drama, he had to step up.

On August 11, Flavor Flav took to X and declared, “Ayyy YOOOO @ChilesJordan, imma make you a BRONZE CLOCK NECKLACE,,, and that’s something NO ONE else has,!!! Hit me up my girl,,, I gotchu,!!!” The very next day, he showed off the finished product, but Chiles was nowhere to be seen—because she’d taken a break from social media to process the disappointment. Thankfully, her mom, Gina, saw the post and promised to fill her daughter in on the heartfelt gesture.

Fast forward to tonight, and Jordan Chiles finally got her hands on that medal. Still, the saga is far from over. With no official resolution in sight, Flav couldn’t help but throw some shade at the powers that be, saying, “Yes, I know they tried to take your medal away from you. You know what I’m saying?” And who doesn’t know? The gymnastics world is still buzzing, and for Chiles, this whole fiasco goes way beyond just a medal!

Jordan Chiles lays bare her raw pain over the historic medal that slipped away

No gymnastics fan can forget that powerful image: Rebeca Andrade standing tall in victory, while Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles knelt before her, honoring an all-Black podium in the women’s floor exercise. It was a groundbreaking moment—one that was meant to go down in Olympic history. But for Jordan, that historic moment now feels tainted, as the bronze medal she worked for was taken from her, leaving an emotional wound that’s far deeper than just losing hardware.

At the Forbes Power Women’s Summit on September 11, Jordan Chiles didn’t hold back. She said, “The biggest thing that was taken from me was, it was the recognition of who I was. Not just my sport, but the person I am.” For her, this is about more than a medal—it’s about identity. “It’s not about the medal, it’s about my skin color. It’s about the fact there were things that have led up to this position of being an athlete. And I felt like everything has been stripped. I felt like when I was back in 2018 where I did lose the love of the sport, I lost it again.”

Paris 2024 Olympics – Artistic Gymnastics – Women’s Team Final – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – July 30, 2024. Jordan Chiles of United States reacts after her performance on the Vault. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Despite the pain, Jordan’s gratitude for the support she’s received is clear, and it’s driving her fight for justice. “It’s not over,” she said with determination. Both Jordan Chiles and USA Gymnastics are still fighting to reclaim her rightful bronze medal, even as Ana Bărbosu has already received hers from the controversial women’s floor final at the Paris Olympics. In this fight, Flavor Flav’s symbolic gesture—a bronze clock necklace—might just be the spark Jordan needs to keep pushing forward! What do you think? Share with us!