Ana Bărbosu has received her bronze medal for the 2024 Paris Olympics women’s gymnastics floor exercise. During a formal ceremony that was held in Bucharest, Romania, on Friday, August 16, the 18-year-old Olympian was given the medal that Team USA athlete Jordan Chiles was recently stripped of.
International Olympic Committee for Romania member Octavian Morariu and president of the Romanian Olympic and Sport Committee, Mihai Covaliu, presented Ana with the recognition at the Olympic House.
After the ceremony ended, Ana said that she “can’t help but think about [fellow Romanian gymnast] Sabrina [Voinea] and Jordan right now,” according to an Instagram post shared by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation. The caption has been translated from Romanian to English.
“It’s a difficult situation for us, with so many uncertainties and overwhelming emotions,” Ana continued. “I hope everyone understands that we have not done anything wrong at the Olympics. And that the Olympic spirit is more important than any misunderstanding between the authorities.”
Ana’s medal ceremony took place two weeks after Jordan, 23, was awarded the medal when her coach, Cecile Landi, submitted an inquiry to Olympic judges over Jordan’s score. Just moments after Ana was initially in third place, the judges moved Jordan into third place and Ana into fifth place. Ana was seen walking away in tears, and Jordan was given the bronze medal at the podium. Romania promptly fought the score change, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in their favor. The CAS claimed that Team USA had submitted the score inquiry four seconds past the one-minute deadline, but USA Gymnastics submitted video evidence to counteract the allegation. Nevertheless, the CAS doubled down on its ruling, revoking Jordan’s third place status.
Following a week-long hiatus from social media, Jordan broke her silence in a lengthy statement that she shared to Instagram on Thursday, August 15.
