Romanian Gymnast Ana Bărbosu Gets Olympic Bronze Medal After Jordan Chiles Stripped of Honor

Mar. 15, 2025

From Left: Ana Maria Barbosu; and Jordan Chiles.Photo:DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images; Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images; Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

On Friday, Aug. 16,  Bărbosu, 18, was awarded the bronze medal during a reallocation ceremony in Bucharest, Romania. After receiving her medal, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu presented her with flowers.

According toThe Athletic, Bărbosu spoke after the ceremony. “I want to believe that the day will come when all three of us [Bărbosu, Chiles and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea] will receive a bronze medal,” she said.

In another post to her Instagram Stories, she posted a photo of her with officials from RGF. “The team that formed the sports team and brought the Olympic medal home!” she captioned the photo, which was translated from Romanian.

The medal changeover comes days after Chiles, 23, lost her bronze medal following a petition from Bǎrbosu’s team that claimed the American gymnast had been wrongly awarded the medal.

Chiles finished the event in fifth place with a 13.666, according to scores from the judges, placing Bǎrbosu in third place with the original scoring of 13.700. The US Gymnastics coach, Cecile Landi, then appealed the scores, noting that Chiles should have had a higher difficulty score for her routine, which ultimately elevated her score and put her in third place with 13.766.

Ana Maria Barbosu on Aug. 16, 2024.DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images

DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images

However, the Romanian Olympic committee submitted their own inquiry on the ruling, claiming that Landi had placed her request just seconds past the deadline for consideration.

A judge for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had decided that Chiles was ineligible due to the coach’s late submission, ultimately stripping her of her solo bronze medal.

Jordan Chiles on Aug. 05, 2024.Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty

Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty

“This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey,” she continued, before addressing the attacks she faced online amid the rulings. “To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country.

Chiles called the stripping of her bronze medal “one of the most challenging moments of my career.” She added, “I will approach this challenge as I have others — and will make every effort to ensure that justice is done. I believe that at the end of this journey, the people in control will do the right thing,” the gymnast concluded.

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source: people.com