On Wednesday, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee announced its intention to appeal a disputed score from the women’s gymnastics floor final.
This decision follows a prior appeal by the U.S., which led to one of the most contentious moments of an already controversial Paris Olympics.
The Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu had originally secured the bronze medal in the floor event on Monday, celebrating on the mat. However, U.S. coaches appealed against the score of Jordan Chiles, resulting in a 0.1-point increase after a review, which elevated Chiles above Barbosu for the bronze medal.
Sabrina Maneca-Voinea of Romania during the women’s balance beam final at the Paris Olympics. (Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
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With Chiles’ score adjustment, she moved up to third place and received the bronze medal, marking the first time in Olympic gymnastics history that the floor final’s podium featured three Black medalists.
Chiles was joined by U.S. teammate Simone Biles, who earned silver, along with Brazil’s Rebecca Andrade, who took home the gold. This pivotal moment was visually represented at the podium, where Biles, 27, and Chiles, 23, bowed to their Brazilian counterpart Andrade, 25, who celebrated with raised fists.
Simone Biles, left, and Jordan Chiles pay tribute to Rebeca Andrade during the podium ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women’s floor exercise at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 5, 2024. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)
In response, Romania is appealing the score for their own Sabrina Maneca-Voinea’s floor routine. Initially finishing fourth behind Barbosu but ahead of Chiles, Maneca-Voinea was subsequently dropped to fifth place after a review adjusted Chiles’ score.
“The evaluation of the score and the refusal to provide comprehensive reasoning/proof for the dismissal of the appeal within the prescribed rules significantly damages the image of international gymnastics and, more importantly, affects the athletes, potentially compromising their mental well-being,” stated Mihai Covaliu, president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.
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The Romanian Gymnastics Federation has confirmed it has filed requests with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Recognizing the negative impact this has on Ana Maria Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, our federation is committed to rectifying the judges’ mistakes and restoring our athletes’ rights,” added the federation.
Ana Barbosu performs during the women’s floor exercise final at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 5, 2024. (Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty Images)
In a related development, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Tuesday that he will boycott the Paris Olympics’ closing ceremony due to the scoring decision.
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“I have decided not to attend the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics as a result of the deplorable situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an entirely dishonorable manner,” Ciolacu wrote in a Facebook post. “To revoke a medal earned through honest effort due to an appeal… is completely unacceptable!”
Ciolacu further assured that Romania would still honor Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea as Olympic medalists, with both athletes to receive monetary rewards for their achievements.
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