Romanian gymnast blames officials over Paris Olympics bronze medal controversy

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Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu broke her silence on Sunday after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ordered American Jordan Chiles to return her bronze medal.

Barbosu could be awarded the bronze medal amid the controversy that followed the floor exercise final at the Paris Olympics last week. The Center for Arbitration of Sport ruled that the U.S. inquiry into Chiles’ score was past the one-minute deadline and ruled that her score of 13.666 be reinstated, which would drop her to fifth in the rankings – even behind Romanian Sabrina Mancea-Voinea.

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Ana Barbosu of Romania performs during the women's floor exercise final at the Olympic Games in Paris on Aug. 5, 2024. (Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Barbosu’s message came after the IOC’s determination but before the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee planned to file an appeal and USA Gymnastics said they have evidence that the inquiry came to the judges within the time frame twice. Barbosu blamed officials for the drama.

"Sabrina, 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," she wrote in a post on Instagram. "I hope from deep of my heart that at the next Olympics, all three of us will share the same podium. That is my true dream.

"The situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation. We, as athletes, are not to be blamed, and the hate directed to us is painful. I wanted to end this edition of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in the spirit of Olympism, the true value of the world."

Ana Barbosu