Jordan Chiles should SHARE her bronze, say Romanian officials whose appeal cost the heartbroken USA gymnast her Olympic medal

Romanian gymnastics officials have suggested that heartbroken American Jordan Chiles could share a bronze medal with Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea amid the ongoing row over third place in the Olympics floor routine. 

Chiles initially finished fifth in the floor final but the USA appealed the decision and her score was increased enough for her to rise into third ahead of Romania's Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea, respectively. 

However, a bombshell decision from the Court of Arbitration of Sport a few days later ruled that the judging panel were wrong to allow Chiles' score to be increased as the appeal came outside the one minute window allowed by the International Gymnastics Federation.

On Monday, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation suggested all three gymnasts receive a medal, after Chiles was forced to part with the bronze she returned to the States with. 

'The initiative to award bronze medals to all three athletes, Jordan Chiles, Ana-Maria Barbosu, and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, was proposed by the lawyers of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, with the prior approval of the Federation,' the FRG said in a statement. 

Romanian gymnastics officials issued a statement about Jordan Chiles' bronze medal row

The federation suggested she share a medal with Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea

'The leadership of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation (FRG), through its representatives, took all necessary steps to reach this consensus. We emphasize that certain requests were made by the American side to achieve this goal, and our side consistently complied with these requests, a fact that was appreciated by the American representative,' they went on. 

The FRG emphasized that they wanted to resolve the ongoing conflict 'in a manner that shows respect and appreciation for the athletes involved.'

'We hereby appeal to the entire gymnastics community, both within the country and abroad, to put a STOP to the attacks against gymnasts Jordan Chiles, Ana-Maria Barbosu, and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea.' 

It comes amid news that the Center of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) refused to hear new video evidence presented by the US, which allegedly proved that the appeal to reevaluate Chiles' score was, in fact, submitted in under sixty seconds.   

Barbosu is scheduled to receive the bronze taken from Chiles in Romania this week

Chiles posted two statements to social media about her losing her bronze medal

USA gymnastics has since vowed to fight the ruling by appealing to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, however it's extremely rare for CAS decisions to be overturned. 

Barbosu, who has reached out to Chiles on social media, is set to receive her bronze in Bucharest on Friday. A ceremony has been scheduled for the 20-year-old, with the IOC present. 

In the wake of the drama, 23-year-old Chiles posted four broken heart emojis on Instagram and said she was taking a break from social media while her sister claimed racism played a part in the decision. 

Barbosu, meanwhile, sympathized with Chiles in a social media statement.

'Sabrina [Maneca-Voinea], Jordan, my thoughts are with you. I know what you are feeling, because I've been through the same,' she wrote in a post over the weekend.

Barbosu said she hopes she is on the podium alongside Chiles at the next Olympics 

Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics is still fighting for Chiles to keep hold of her bronze medal 

'But I know you'll come back stronger. 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,' she went on.

'This situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation. We, 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.'

Chiles also received a message of support from her USA teammate Simone Biles, who said on Saturday, 'Sending you so much love Jordan. Keep your chin up Olympic champ! We love you!'