Simone Biles demands ‘justice’ for Jordan Chiles continues to reel from court’s decision to strip her of her Olympic bronze and award it to Romanian rival
Simone Biles has continued supporting Team USA teammate Jordan Chiles amid the ongoing controversy over the bronze medal in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics.
‘We’ve been FaceTiming, texting, just being girls,’ Biles told People while promoting her partnership with a haircare brand. ‘I did talk to her on one of the days, and I was like, ‘You know what, Jordan, you have to feel all these feels. Don’t let these emotions stop you. This will be the healthiest way to get all of this out.’
It’s been a difficult August for Chiles, who was awarded the bronze in the floor exercise in Paris on August 5 on the back of an appeal by Team USA coach Cecile Landi, who challenged her athlete’s degree-of-difficulty score. That challenge led to a .1 boost, bumping Chiles to 13.766 – just ahead of Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu’s 13.700.
Chiles celebrated on the podium that night, but the medal has since been reallocated to Barbosu after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport voided Landi’s appeal.
Biles, who won the silver in the floor on August 5, insists that Chiles isn’t too down. She’s ‘still that girl,’ Biles told People, adding that her performance speaks for itself.
