Romania’s Ana Barbosu Breaks Silence After Jordan Chiles Is Stripped of Olympic Bronze Medal: ‘Been Through the Same‘

Mar. 15, 2025

Ana Barbosu; Jordan Chiles.Photo:Getty(2)

Getty(2)

Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu is speaking out after anOlympic medal controversyended inJordan Chiles’ bronze medal being stripped from herand awarded instead to Barbosu.

On Sunday, Aug. 11, ahead of the2024 Paris Olympics' closing ceremonies, Barbosu, 18, reacted onher Instagram Storiesto the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)’s ruling that Team USA’s Chiles, 23, will need to return the bronze medalshe earned during the Aug. 5 floor exercise final.

“Sabrina [Maneca-Voinea], Jordan, my thoughts are with you. I know what you are feeling, because I’ve been through the same. But I know you’ll come back stronger,” Barbosu wrote, addressing Chiles and her fellow Team Romania gymnast, who moved to fifth and fourth places.

“I hope from deep of my heart that at the next Olympics, all three of us will share [the] same podium,” she continued. “This is my true dream!”

Ana Barbosu’s Instagram Stories post to Jordan Chiles.Ana Barbosu/instagram

Ana Barbosu/instagram

Chiles briefly spoke out on the controversy, writing on her Instagram Stories that she was going to be taking time off social media after the ruling in her favor was reversed. “I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you,” she wrote.

In an interview withGood Morning Americaheld before the ruling was reversed, Chiles also said that “proud” of Barbosu. “Ana Barbosu, she’s an amazing athlete, she’s done amazing things within her gymnastics as well,” Chiles said. “I’m very proud of myself but very proud of her as well.”

PEOPLE previously reportedthat following the women’sfloor finalevent, Chiles initially finished fifth based on the judges' scoring, with a score of 13.666, and the two Romanian competitors finishing in third and fourth with scores of 13.700.

Soon after, Chiles’ coach submitted an inquiry into the decision, arguing that her difficulty score had been too low. Judges from the CAS agreed with the coach and updated Chiles' score, which moved her up to third place overall, ahead of Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea.

The Romanian Olympic committee contested the decision, and on Saturday, Aug. 10, the CAS decided toreinstate Chiles' original score, moving her back to fifth place, and moving both Romanian gymnasts up.

USA Gymnastics previously told PEOPLE in an email that the team was disappointed with the reversal of the ruling, and adding that it will bepushing for the International Olympic Committee to return Chiles' medal.

Jordan Chiles at the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor Exercise Final.Tom Weller/VOIGT/Getty

Tom Weller/VOIGT/Getty

The team also called for an end to thehateful messages being sent to Chilesin the wake of the appeal and ruling.

Chilesmom, Gina Chiles, called out people of social media who accused her daughter of cheating, writing that many of the criticisms aimed at Jordan wereracist and “disgusting.”

“My daughter is a highly decorated Olympian with the biggest heart and a level of sportsmanship that is unmatched…and she’s being called disgusting things,” she added.Many of Chiles' teammates, includingSimone Biles,Suni LeeandJade Carey, as well as her coach Cecile Landi — who initially filed the inquiry into her score — have also shown their support for the athlete amid the controversy, condemning the attacks against her.

“Jordan won this bronze medal and didn’t steal anything from anyone,” Landi wrote in a comment on social media, after another useraccused Chiles of cheating. “I simply did my job and fought for my athlete.”

source: people.com