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Controversy hit the gymnastics floor at the Olympics this week when Jordan Chiles landed a bronze medal in her most recent meet. Initially finishing off the podium, an appeal from coach Cecile Landi resulted in a scoring change that pushed her into third place.
That review contested the difficulty of Chiles‘ score, though Landi wasn’t entirely sure that her inquiry would make a difference.
“We had nothing to lose,” she said after the fact. “So, I was like, ‘We are just going to try.'”
With the ruling, Chiles supplanted Team Romania’s Ana Barbosu for the final medal spot. Many were unhappy with the decision.
One of those critics was fellow Romanian and legendary athlete Nadia Comaneci. Comaneci, who became the first gymnast to record a perfect 10 back in 1976, took to social media to voice her frustrations.
I can’t believe we play with athletes’ mental health and emotions like this… Let’s protect them #anabarbosu
-Nadia Comaneci / X: @nadiacomaneci10
Barbosu began celebrating upon seeing the initial scores, only to leave in tears when her competitor was given a 0.1 point boost. That wound up being the difference between placing and leaving empty-handed.
While Comaneci and others blasted the overturned ruling, Jordan Chiles’ coach said the anger is being misdirected at the Team USA gymnast.
Jordan Chiles’ coach comes to her defense.
Cecile response to misdirected anger
byu/Xylophone1904 inGymnastics
In a post on Instagram, the Cecile Landi made a comment in support of her athlete.
“I shouldn’t have to explain but I will ONCE. Jordan’s highest possible SV on floor is a 5.9 – At quals and team finals she received a 5.8 and we didn’t question it because we saw that not all elements were completed. During floor finals, we thought it was better and being placed 5th with nothing to lose, I sent the inquiry so I wouldn’t regret not asking. I didn’t think it would be accepted and at my surprise it was. Jordan won this bronze medal and didn’t steal anything from anyone. I simply did my job and fought for my athlete. Do I feel bad for the Romanian athlete? Of course I do! It was so sad and heartbreaking to see but it is the sport! You don’t have to like it but you do have to respect the outcome and more importantly respect Jordan and not drag her down because you disagree. She EARNED that bronze medal, her 1st individual Olympic medal and I couldn’t be more proud and excited!”
-Cecile Landi on Instagram
Landi says that she was only doing her job. She fought for her gymnast!
That fight helped Chiles land a bronze medal, though this explanation likely won’t quiet much of the criticism.