Jordan Chiles has finally broken her silence after the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) controversial decision to strip the U.S. gymnast of her Olympic bronze medal.
“I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me but to everyone who has championed my journey,” the 23-year-old wrote in a statement shared on Instagram Thursday.
“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 has been dealing with a frustrating back-and-forth of appeals with the Olympic committees regarding the results of the women’s floor final during the Paris Summer Games on Aug. 5. The Olympian—who also won gold in the team final with Simone Biles, Hezley Rivera, Jade Carey, and Sunisa Lee in Paris—said she is “now confronted with one of the most challenging moments of my career.”
“While celebrating my Olympic accomplishments, I heard the devastating news that my bronze medal had been stripped away.” Chiles said she “had confidence in the appeal brought by USAG, who provided conclusive evidence that my score followed all the rules.” However, “this appeal was ultimately unsuccessful.”
Despite facing this difficult moment, Chiles did not forget to mention her support system.
