Jordan Chiles seemingly rebuts Nadia Comaneci's remarks on 'athletes mental health' over bronze medal fuss

PARIS, FRANCE: Jordan Chiles bagged a bronze medal in the women's floor final at the 2024 Paris Olympics after adjusting her score following a successful appeal.

The gymnast initially got a score of 13.666 behind Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu's 13.700. However, the US gymnastics coaches demanded an inquiry, bumping the American's score to 13.766, winning her first individual Olympic medal.

As Chiles celebrated the victory, Barbosu's medal dreams were quashed at the last moment. The Romanian gymnast began celebrating her bronze medal but broke down in tears once the score change announcement was made.

Jordan Chiles refutes Nadia Comaneci's criticism of judges over eleventh-hour score change

Nadia Comaneci slammed the judges for the last-minute score change that cost Barbosu the first Olympic medal of her gymnastics career.

The 62-year-old legendary gymnast who won five gold medals in the Olympics for Romania was the first person to score a perfect 10 in the history of gymnasts at the 1976 Montreal Games.

Voicing her frustration on X (formerly Twitter), Comaneci wrote, "I can't believe we play with athletes mental health and emotions like this… let's protect them," along with "#anabarbosu."

Her social media meltdown ignited negative comments directed at the 23-year-old US gymnast.

Chiles retorted through X, which apparently looked like an indirect dig at Comaneci.

"It's funny how people can still never be happy for someone…" the American wrote.

Team USA coach Cecile Landi defended the last-minute decision to appeal, noting they had nothing to lose at the time and it was just a try. "I honestly didn't think it was going to happen, but when I heard her scream, I turned around and was like, 'What?'" Landi said, according to sports news website Athlon Sports.

As Chiles finished in the third position, USA's Simone Biles ended up with a silver medal behind Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade's gold.

Internet split over Jordan Chiles' apparent jab at Nadia Comaneci's criticism

Netizens held divided opinions as Jordan Chiles indirectly criticized Nadia Comaneci's comments on "athletes metal health," over the bronze medal controversy.

While one group sided with the Romanian gymnast's claim, another supported Chiles.

 "Why do they even host these games if they have their lists with "athletes" that are supposed to win the medals anyway?" a user asked.

Whereas another commented, "We don’t care about party poopers. Today, you were amazing, you thrived for greatness and that’s what’s most important. And what you did on the podium. Really, you both are queens."

"This was really upsetting. Surely they should hold the final score until the inquiry is resolved for this very reason," added a user.

One response read, "Jordan submitted an inquiry less than 2 minutes after her score came up which is completely allowed. Yes, it was awful for Ana to think she won bronze for those 2 mins but Jordan is fully entitled to inquire about the D score of her routine (and good thing she did so, for her)."

"Ana Barbosu was treated with the utmost cruelty in that instance," someone else opined.

"How about explain that the judges screwed up! The medal should’ve always been Jordan’s! Ana’s routine was not as difficult. Her coaches should’ve told her to wait until things are final," another user chimed in.

"You are aware that you won by cheating right? That medal belongs to Ana Bărbosu," an individual commented on Chiles' post.

"Well, don't blame Jordan or the U.S. Olympic team. The blame falls on the Olympic judging team for miscalculating the DD," read one remark.

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