Team USA women’s gymnastics coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi is putting an end to all the drama surrounding Jordan Chiles‘ 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medal win. In a recent Instagram post, Canqueteau-Landi congratulated Chiles and Simone Biles for their Olympic victories and addressed accusations of cheating made against her and her fellow coaches.
Canqueteau-Landi explained that Chiles’ highest possible score on the floor exercise is 5.9. During the qualifiers and team finals, Chiles received a score of 5.8, which they accepted without questioning. However, during the floor exercise finals, they felt that Chiles had performed better and decided to send an inquiry to ensure they didn’t miss any scoring opportunities. To their surprise, the inquiry was accepted, resulting in Chiles moving up from fifth place to third.
Addressing the accusation of cheating, Canqueteau-Landi emphasized that she hadn’t stolen anything from anyone. She was simply doing her job and fighting for her athlete. While she expressed sympathy for the Romanian gymnast who initially held the third-place position, she urged everyone to respect the outcome and, more importantly, to respect Jordan Chiles and her achievement. Canqueteau-Landi proudly stated that Chiles had earned her first individual Olympic medal and deserved every bit of recognition and celebration.
Chiles’ journey to the bronze medal wasn’t without its share of controversy. Initially placing fifth in the floor exercise finals, Team USA filed an inquiry regarding one of Chiles’ skills. The judges ultimately accepted the inquiry, resulting in Chiles’ placement being bumped up to third. Simone Biles earned a silver medal in the event, while Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade took home the gold.
As Chiles’ inquiry was being evaluated, Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu, who initially held the third-place position, celebrated on the floor with her country’s flag before realizing she was not the bronze medalist. The heartbreaking moment was captured on the broadcast, showing Barbosu walking away from the event in tears.
Amidst the controversy, Romanian gymnast Sabrina Maneca-Voinea also had her performance evaluated through an inquiry, but her score remained unchanged. Mihai Covaliu, president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, expressed his disappointment in a Facebook post and sent a letter of protest to the Gymnastics Federation, requesting a reevaluation of Maneca-Voinea’s score. The post also revealed that the 17-year-old gymnast had made a public declaration to give up practicing the sport due to the loss.
The fallout from these events has escalated to the highest levels in Romania. The Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, announced his decision to skip the Paris Olympics closing ceremony as a protest against the treatment of Romanian athletes. He described the situation in gymnastics as scandalous and unacceptable, criticizing the withdrawal of a medal earned through honest work based on an appeal that both coaches and technicians did not understand.
In the end, these controversies serve as a reminder of the emotions and tensions that can arise in the world of sports. While the outcomes may not always be what we expect or envision, it is essential to respect the hard work and achievements of the athletes involved. Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal win is a testament to her dedication and strength, and it deserves to be celebrated.
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