Aly Raisman Calls Jordan Chiles’ Olympics Medal Controversy ‘Cruel’: ‘This Is Just So Heartbreaking’

Mar. 15, 2025

Aly Raisman (left); Jordan Chiles.Photo:Christopher Polk/Billboard/Getty; Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty

Christopher Polk/Billboard/Getty; Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty

Aly Raismanis supportingJordan Chilesamid herOlympic bronze medal controversy.

The 6-time Olympic medalist, 30, appeared onTodayon Monday, Aug. 12, to share her feelings on the controversy and give insight into the impact it might have on Chiles, 23. Raisman also offered a potential outcome that wouldn’t punish the athletes.

“This is just so heartbreaking and I’m just so gutted for Jordan. I can’t even imagine what this past week has been like for Jordan and the other athletes involved,” Raisman toldHoda Kotb,Savannah Guthrieand Craig Melvin.

“I think it’s so unfair, it’s so cruel and I don’t think that Jordan should have to give her medal back. The IOC has given more than one medal before and I think that they should do that now.”

Raisman described the controversy as “devastating” and “awful.”

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Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty

As seen during NBC’s Olympic coverage of the women’s gymnastics individual floor exercise final on on Monday, Aug. 5, Chiles (who was the final athlete to compete) finished the floor exercise competition in fifth place behind Romanian gymnastsAna Barbosuand Sabrina Maneca-Voinea.

The new score moved Chiles up in the standings tothe bronze medal positionahead of the Romanian gymnasts, who both scored 13.700.

But on Saturday, Aug. 10,the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)ruled in favor of Maneca-Voinea and Barbosu’s protest of the decision, claiming that Coach Cecile Landi submitted her initial challenge four seconds too late.

Jordan Chiles on Aug. 5 in Paris.Jean Catuffe/Getty

Jean Catuffe/Getty

Chiles wasstripped of her bronze medal, but The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is appealing the decision, claiming that they have video evidence that Landi’s score challenge was submitted on time.

OnToday,Raisman said that the athletes involved should not be penalized for what was ultimately the judging panel’s mistake in accepting the challenge. “It’s unfair, I just can’t even believe that we’re in this situation,” she added.

The former Olympian, who has gone on to advocate for gymnasts' mental heath, gave insight into the athlete’s perspective.

Aly Raisman on July 25 in Paris.Julien M. Hekimian/Getty

Julien M. Hekimian/Getty

“I think that the organizations that are in charge of this need to really look at the athletes’ mental health and how much this is affecting them, and how cruel it is to take a medal away from someone,” she added, describing the controversy as “unfathomable.”

Jordan Chiles on Aug. 5 in Paris.Jamie Squire/Getty

Jamie Squire/Getty

Raisman told the co-hosts that she has spoken to Chiles, but is going to keep their conversation private.

“She’s just an incredible person,” Raisman said of Chiles. “I just feel for her. My heart’s going out to her, I support her fully.”

source: people.com