Gymnastics

While USA Gymnastics campaigns for Jordan Chiles to retain her Olympic bronze medal in floor exercise following the 2024 Paris Games, she will receive a different kind of bronze from rapper and gymnastics fan Flavor Flav.

On Monday night, Flavor Flav shared a video of a bronze clock necklace designed for Chiles.

USA gonna Fight the Powers that be,,, in the meantime between time,,,
Imma always a man of my word @ChilesJordan https://t.co/evxFPV0YEd pic.twitter.com/rz72uZeWEz

— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 13, 2024

Chiles' mother, Gina Chiles, said she would share the post with the American gymnast, who is not currently active on social media.

Thank you. Means the world. She's not on socials right now as you can imagine. I'll share it with her. 🫶🏽 https://t.co/HzavHHYxhp

— Gina Chiles (@gina_chiles) August 13, 2024

Flavor Flav's post came the day after the rapper promised Chiles a bronze clock necklace amid the controversy over her medal.

Romania's Ana Barbosu was originally announced as the bronze medal winner following last Monday's floor final, in which Chiles was the final performer.

An inquiry by Team USA then added a .1 to Chiles' score on the floor exercise, elevating her past Barbosu and into a podium spot.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport then announced Saturday that Team USA's inquiry had been submitted past an allotted deadline, removing the additional .1 from Chiles' score and reinstated Barbosu as the third-place finisher.

The International Gymnastics Federation then backed CAS' decision before the International Olympic Committee ordered Chiles to return her bronze medal.

USA Gymnastics submitted a request to reinstate Chiles' score with a video the organization said proved the inquiry had been submitted in time, but the arbitration panel declined to consider the appeal.

The U.S. gymnastics governing body said in a statement it will continue to fight the ruling. The conflict could eventually make it to the highest court in Switzerland, the Swiss Tribunal, or the European Court of Human Rights, according to the Associated Press.

USA Gymnastics hit a snag in its quest to get Jordan Chiles the Olympic bronze medal that she was forced to give up over the weekend.

After submitting evidence to a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Sunday, USA Gymnastics announced on Monday that it was informed that the court's rules don't allow for the situation to be reconsidered. USA Gymnastics said it will continue pursuing methods of appeal to get Chiles her medal back:

Statement from USA Gymnastics on CAS Notice: pic.twitter.com/HoSiKjx9wl

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 12, 2024

Christine Brennan of USA Today provided another update on the situation:

The screw-ups continue in the Jordan Chiles case: I’m hearing that the Court of Arbitration for Sport did not reach out to the right US officials as CAS prepared for last week’s Romanian appeal in Paris. They are supposed to notify both sides and they got the wrong US officials.

— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) August 13, 2024

Chiles was awarded the bronze medal in the floor exercise after an inquiry by Team USA coach Cecile Landi led to her score being changed and moving her from fifth place to third ahead of Romanians Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. However, the CAS voided Landi's appeal and the International Olympic Committee announced that Chiles would be required to return her medal so it could be reallocated to Barbosu.

The CAS reportedly determined that Landi's inquiry came after the one-minute window allowed by the International Gymnastics Federation, saying that it occurred one minute and four seconds after Chiles' score was posted. In its submission of evidence on Sunday, USA Gymnastics said it found that Landi's appeal came within the window.

"USA Gymnastics on Sunday formally submitted a letter and video evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, conclusively establishing that Head Coach Cecile Landi's request to file an inquiry was submitted 47 seconds after the publishing of the score, within the 1-minute deadline required," Sunday's announcement stated.

Chiles appeared to address the situation when she wrote in an Instagram story on Saturday that she was "taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you."

Chiles also earned a gold medal in the team competition along with her United States teammates Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey and Hezley Rivera.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman criticized the International Olympic Committee's ruling that U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles needs to return the bronze medal that she earned in the individual floor exercise.

"I don't think people realize these gymnasts work their entire lives for this moment, and it's supposed to be a celebration," Raisman said on TODAY (per TODAY.com's Anna Caplan). "This was one of my favorite moments at the Olympics, watching Jordan celebrate. I think it's so unfair. It's so cruel."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6QwTiYMMnI

Chiles wasn't initially on the podium following her floor exercise, although she was eventually given a bronze medal following an inquiry from her coach that raised her score to 13.766.

JORDAN CHILES IS THAT GIRL! 🌟

She earns her first individual Olympic medal with a bronze in the women's floor exercise. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/9HJRO1LFzn

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2024

However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport revealed that the inquiry occurred four seconds beyond the one-minute time limit to appeal. On Saturday, the International Gymnastics Federation announced that Romania's Ana Bărbosu would be elevated to third.

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee revealed plans to appeal the decision and allow Chiles to keep her bronze medal, with USA Gymnastics submitting video evidence that the request occurred within one minute.

USA Gymnastics has submitted additional evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. pic.twitter.com/GOKymbAtcq

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 11, 2024

"This is just so heartbreaking, and I'm just so gutted for Jordan," Raisman said, per Kaplan. "I can't even imagine what this past week has been like for Jordan and the other athletes involved. This is completely devastating."

Raisman is far from the only notable athlete to side with Chiles, as LeBron James also expressed his support for her in a Sunday post on X.

♾️!!!!!! 🤎🇺🇸 https://t.co/RfmDrLleia

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 11, 2024

While Chiles' bronze status is up in the air, she won't be going home from Paris empty-handed regardless. She previously earned a gold medal during team competition.

Even if Jordan Chiles has to give her bronze medal back, she will be receiving something to commemorate her Olympic performance.

The U.S. gymnast was requested to relinquish her bronze medal from the floor exercise by the IOC after a Romanian appeal deemed the inquiry filed by her coach to have come too late.

The USOPC is appealing the decision but rapper Flavor Flav is ensuring that Chiles performance is recognized. Flav posted on X about his plan to make Chiles a bronze clock necklace "that's something no one else has."

Ayyy YOOOO @ChilesJordan ,,, imma make you a BRONZE CLOCK NECKLACE,,, and that’s something NO ONE else has,!!! Hit me up my girl,,, I gotchu,!!! pic.twitter.com/qFVzkgkx25

— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 11, 2024

Chiles isn't the only athlete that Flav has helped this Olympic cycle.

The rapper notably donated to U.S. discus thrower Veronica Fraley after she had shared that she was struggling to pay rent. He also became a sponsor for the U.S. women's water polo team.

Chiles' situation is unique, as she earned the medal and was in the ceremony. USA Gymnastics said it was "devastated" by the IOC's decision and believed the inquiry was filed "in good faith."

USA Gymnastics is fighting for the bronze medal it believes Jordan Chiles won during the floor exercise competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The initial scoring of the competition placed Romanian Ana Barbosu in third, Romanian Sabrina Maneca-Voinea in fourth and Chiles in fifth. However, Chiles' coach submitted an inquiry that was recognized, which moved her into third place for the bronze medal.

That medal has since been voided by a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision, although USA Gymnastics announced Sunday it filed video evidence suggesting Chiles' bronze-medal score of 13.766 should stand.

USA Gymnastics has submitted additional evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. pic.twitter.com/GOKymbAtcq

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 11, 2024

"USA Gymnastics on Sunday formally submitted a letter and video evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, conclusively establishing that Head Coach Cecile Landi's request to file an inquiry was submitted 47 seconds after the publishing of the score, within the 1-minute deadline required," the announcement said.

The timing is critical since the ruling that would take away Chiles' medal said the inquiry was raised after the one-minute deadline passed.

Will Graves of the Associated Press reported the CAS said the appeal happened four seconds after the one-minute deadline for any scoring inquiries. That ruling elevated Barbosu back into bronze-medal position.

What's more, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said they would honor the court's decision and give the bronze medal to Barbosu. The IOC also said it would ask Chiles to return the medal.

However, Graves reported the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee said it would appeal that ruling.

"We firmly believe that Jordan rightfully earned the bronze medal, and there were critical errors in both the initial scoring by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the subsequent CAS appeal process that need to be addressed," the organization said in a statement.

Graves noted that Chiles said on Instagram she was heartbroken and "taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you."

Brazil's Rebeca Andrade won the gold medal in the floor exercise, while Chiles' American teammate, Simone Biles, captured the silver. Biles and Chiles bowing to Andrade on the medal podium in the aftermath was one of the most memorable images of the entire Games.

Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles showed love to Andrade on the podium after she won gold in Woman’s Floor Exercise 🥇🇧🇷

Three ACL tears since 2015 to a gold medal in 2024. Legend. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Z8qrH2PvCK

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 5, 2024

However, the memory of that moment has now been impacted by the ensuing medal controversy.

Chiles also won a gold medal as part of the United States group that won the team competition.

Amid the International Olympic Committee's ruling that Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles would have to return her floor exercise bronze medal, the 23-year-old received support from her teammates.

"Sending you so much love Jordan," Simone Biles posted in an Instagram story, per ESPN. "Keep your chin up 'Olympic champ' we love you."

"All this talk about the athlete, what about the judges?" Sunisa Lee added on her Instagram story. "Completely unacceptable, this is awful and [I'm] gutted for [Jordan]."

Simone Biles and Suni Lee shared their support for Jordan Chiles after the court voiding the inquiry that gave Chiles a bronze medal ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8py6bgnOO5

— espnW (@espnW) August 11, 2024

The IOC made the ruling that Chiles must return her bronze medal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport voided a scoring appeal made by Team USA coach Cecile Landi that helped her earn a spot on the podium. The medal will be reallocated to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu.

The CAS reportedly determined that Landi's appeal to have 0.1 added to Chiles' score occurred outside of the one-minute window allowed by the International Gymnastics Federation. Landi's appeal came 1 minute, 4 seconds after Chiles' score was posted, the court stated.

It was suggested that the original finishing order be restored, with Barbosu third, Romanian Sabrina Maneca-Voinea fourth and Chiles falling all the way to fifth behind gold-medal winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil and Biles, who earned the silver medal.

Chiles appeared to allude to the disappointment caused by the decision when she wrote in an Instagram story on Saturday that she was "taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you."

Chiles' sister, Jazmin, wrote on Instagram that she was stripped of her bronze medal "not because she wasn't good enough. But because the judges failed to give her difficulty and forced an inquiry to be made."

USA Gymnastics said in a statement that it was "devastated" by the court's decision.

"The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles' floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring," the organization stated.

American gymnastics icon Simone Biles isn't the only member of her family donning gold during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Biles' father Ronald celebrated his 75th birthday by wearing a Death Row Records golden chain gifted to him by Snoop Dogg.

New Nepo Dad on the Block: Snoop Dogg gifted Simone Biles' dad a gold 'Death Row' chain for his 75th birthday.

More: https://t.co/Fi0z5d6u6Z pic.twitter.com/GSQkO2awr9

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) August 9, 2024

Adria Biles, sister of the Olympic gymnast, shared an image of the chain on her Instagram story.

"snoop gave him a chain now he don't know how to act," Adria Biles wrote in the caption (h/t Joyann Jeffrey of TODAY.com.)

Biles' parents and Snoop Dogg were previously seen together on the NBC broadcast ahead of the Opening Ceremony in Paris.

Simone Biles' mom gives an update on her daughter and tells the story of when she met Snoop Dogg years ago.

📺 #ParisOlympics Opening Ceremony on NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/8zTSHc9fQM

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2024

Biles and Snoop Dogg then sat together in the stands for an Olympic track event.

Link up wit a 🐐 👊🏿✅ @Simone_Biles 🇺🇸 watching track 🏃🏿 @NBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/to0lwG0amI

— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) August 9, 2024

Biles has credited her parents' support with helping her become the most decorated gymnast in U.S. Olympic history. Now her father has some bling of his own to match the three gold medals she will bring home from Paris.

It's not often an NFL player isn't even the best athlete in his own marriage, but that is certainly the case for Chicago Bears defensive back Jonathan Owens.

And he is thrilled to play the role of hype man for his wife, Olympics legend Simone Biles.

"She's amazing, isn't she? I'm over the moon," Owens said during a Tuesday appearance on NFL Network's Inside Training Camp Live (h/t Eric Edholm of NFL.com). "I was just excited that I was able to sit there and I was able to witness it and experience the energy, the culture and just watch everyone react to her."

The Bears allowed him to leave training camp and travel to Paris to cheer on Biles' pursuit of gold.

"My wife's a warrior," he told reporters.

There's no doubting that.

Biles worked through an apparent calf injury during the Games and added to her illustrious resume with gold medals in the team competition, individual all-around competition and vault. She also won silver in the floor exercise.

Simone Biles becomes the #ParisOlympics vault champion to secure her SEVENTH career Olympic gold medal. 🥇

📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/bV9j5aX285

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2024

She counts seven gold medals and 11 overall Olympics medals to her name and has cemented herself as the greatest gymnast of all-time. She is also one of the best Olympians of all-time in any sport.

As for Owens, he will look to bring home some hardware of his own during his first season with the Bears as part of a team that has plenty of optimism with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams leading an offense that also features DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, D'Andre Swift and Rome Odunze.

Winning four medals and competing in five different events in nine days at the 2024 Olympics is going to exhaust even the best athletes.

In a post on X, Simone Biles said that she "just woke up from a much needed nap" on Tuesday.

just woke up from a much needed nap

— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 6, 2024

Biles finished off her historic run in Paris on Monday with a silver medal in the floor exercise. The second-place finish gave her three individual medals. She also won gold with the United States in the team all-around.

Leading up to the Paris Games, Biles called these Olympics a redemption tour for the Americans. The U.S. women won six medals in Tokyo, but the two golds were its fewest in an Olympics since 2008.

Team USA won three gold medals in Paris, with Biles winning the individual all-around and vault. Suni Lee won three medals and Jordan Chiles won two.

Biles' 11 career Olympic medals make her the most decorated American gymnast of all-time. She is tied with Věra Čáslavská of Czechoslovakia for the second-most medals by a female gymnast.

Even though Biles is getting a well-deserved rest right now, she has already been asked about potentially competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

"Never say never," Biles told reporters on Saturday. "Next Olympics are at home. So you just never know. I am getting really old."

Biles will be 31 years old at the time of the next Summer Olympics. At 27 years old for these Games, she became the oldest woman to win gold in any gymnastics event since Polina Astakhova of the Soviet Union in 1964.

Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan is the oldest female gymnast to qualify for the Olympics. She was 46 when she competed at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

Whatever Biles decides to do with her future, she will almost certainly be great at it. For now, though, she can get as much sleep as she wants because all that's left for her to do in Paris is take part in the closing ceremony on Sunday at Stade de France.

Watching the best athletes in the world compete for gold in the Olympics is often inspiring and always exciting. It also provides some truly wholesome moments.

Take Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin, who went viral on Monday for mimicking Italian gymnasts Alice D'Amato and Manila Esposito as they bit their medals on the podium—one of the traditions among Olympic champions—following the balance beam final.

https://twitter.com/OlympicsContext/status/1820518053945414110

D'Amato took gold in the event, Yaqin silver and Esposito won bronze.

As you might imagine, social media quickly gravitated toward the moment, and to Yaqin in general:

Zhou Yaqin reaction on the podium was priceless pic.twitter.com/NH8gtqk9ss

— 🇺🇸 Michael Bongovi (@MichaelBongovi) August 5, 2024

🇨🇳 Chinese athlete Zhou Yaqin had no clue that there’s a custom to bite the medal.

She learned it on the fly … lol pic.twitter.com/kCO0ZddZtL

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) August 5, 2024

https://twitter.com/TheMedalCount_/status/1820546491724779623

Zhou Yaqin hugging every gymnast to encourage them is the most wholesome thing Ive seen. Someone needs to make a video compilation. #PARIS2024 https://t.co/MXi8V6whsG

— Reem Saleh (@Meemzo) August 5, 2024

https://twitter.com/ArsenaLouisee/status/1820513820051128678

ZHOU YAQIN YOU’RE MY NEW ICON 🇨🇳https://t.co/8Vr3m8HsVG

— ITANASTICS (@itanastics) August 5, 2024

There have been plenty of incredible performances, world records and astonishing feats at these Olympic Games. That is also provides wholesome moments—as competitors and cultures from around the world gather in one place every four years—is quite the bonus.