Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

As a seasoned sports enthusiast with a keen eye for detail and a heart full of empathy for athletes, I must say that the recent Olympic Games have been quite the rollercoaster ride. The stories of Jordan Chiles and Ana Barbosu, Faith Kipyegon and Gudaf Tsegay, Luke Greenbank and Alex Walsh, among others, are a poignant reminder of the highs and lows that athletes face in their quest for glory.


Jordan Chiles’ team is backing her up.

After the gymnast received a bronze medal in the floor final due to a review of difficulty scores initiated by her team, which led to Romania’s Ana Barbosu being displaced from the podium, Jordan’s coach, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, is clarifying the situation.

After a user’s comment suggesting that the gymnastics judges were biased in favor of Jordan (Team USA) for winning, the coach swiftly stepped onto the mat to respond.

“Cecile replied in her August 6 Instagram post, ‘I’d rather not have to, but I will clarify once.’ She noted that Jordan’s maximum starting value on floor was a 5.9, yet at qualifiers and team finals she scored a 5.8. This wasn’t questioned because it seemed not all the required elements were fully executed.”

However, Cecile had shared with reporters post the floor final that during Jordan’s performance, her and the team perceived a tour jeté with a full turn, an element she seemed to struggle with during qualifiers and the team round. This was the reason they decided to lodge an inquiry. It is important to note that inquiries are not permissible for execution scores but can be made for difficulty scoring.

“Given the chance to chat with her when she was fifth, with no risks involved, I just had to ask – what if I hadn’t? To my astonishment, she replied! I never expected this!”

As a seasoned athlete who represented my country at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, I want to clarify that what transpired was simply me carrying out my duties as a coach. Everything that occurred was done with complete integrity and transparency.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

“Jordan earned this medal without taking anything from others, as the 44-year-old explained. Naturally, I empathize with the Romanian athlete’s situation; it was truly disheartening and emotional, but that’s just sports!”

After Cecile’s reflection, she emphasized, “You may not enjoy it, but it’s crucial to acknowledge the result and above all, show respect for Jordan. She deserves the bronze medal she earned.”

The coach’s clarification arrives as a debate persists over a sequence of incidents related to the competition. On August 5th, an appeal was lodged by the Romanian Olympic Committee regarding gymnast Sabrina Maneca-Voinea’s final score in the floor event, as indicated on social media. Interestingly, although Sabrina and Ana both achieved overall scores of 13.700 in the finale, Ana was ranked higher than Sabrina due to a superior execution score.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

Initially, Sabrina was marked with a 0.1 penalty for stepping outside the boundaries, but the replay suggested that she might have actually stayed within them.

Mihai Covaliu, head of the Romanian Olympic Committee, appealed to the International Gymnastics Federation (the governing body for gymnastics competitions) to reconsider Sabrina’s score, as an initial appeal was turned down. At present, there’s no update on whether her score will be reassessed.

In a Facebook post on August 6th, Mihai expressed his concern that the method used to evaluate the score and the failure to provide a full explanation or evidence for rejecting the appeal within the specified timeframe, as per the rules, significantly tarnishes the reputation of international gymnastics. More specifically, this action appears to negatively impact the athlete, potentially putting their mental well-being at risk.

For more controversial moments from this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, keep reading.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it as follows:

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

During the July 26 Opening Ceremony, a blunder occurred when athletes from South Korea were mistakenly identified as being from North Korea, both in French and English announcements. This is incorrect as South Korea is recognized as the Republic of Korea, whereas North Korea is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

British sports commentator Bob Ballard was taken off the Eurostar Olympics coverage due to a remark that many found sexist after the Australian swimmers Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon, and Meg Harris won the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. Ballard said, “Well, the women have just finished off.” He continued, “You know what women are like… taking their time, putting on makeup.” His co-commentator Lizzie Simmonds responded, “That’s outrageous, Bob. Some men do that as well.”

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

The athletes dismissed the notion that the water in La Defense Arena was too shallow to break records, with Regan Smith from Team USA stating, “I believe it’s a myth,” after she and Gretchen Walsh, Lilly King, and Torri Huske set a new world record in the women’s 4×100-meter medley. Initially, there were concerns about the absence of new records, leading to speculation that the pool might be responsible. However, as the competition progressed, swimmers became accustomed to it and began setting impressive times. Walsh added, “The Olympics and the pressure associated with it make any pool feel slow.”

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira was dismissed from the Olympics following two instances of misconduct, as stated by the Brazilian Olympic Committee. These actions included departing the Olympic Village with her boyfriend/team-mate Gabriel Santos without authorization and behaving impolitely and aggressively in reaction to a technical decision made by the Brazilian Swimming Team committee concerning the 4x100m freestyle relay. In a video titled “How a misunderstanding shattered my Olympic dream,” Vieira expressed her regrets but asserted that everything would be resolved at the appropriate time.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

As an ardent fan, I’d rephrase it this way:

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

As a long-time fan of gymnastics and having watched Simone Biles’ incredible career unfold over the years, it is disheartening to see such unnecessary drama unfold within the team. It seems that MyKayla Skinner’s comments about the U.S. gymnastics team lacked sensitivity and empathy for the hard work and dedication these athletes have put into their craft.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

As a longtime gymnastics enthusiast and someone who has watched Simone Biles and Suni Lee dominate the sport for years, I was disappointed to learn that neither of them medaled in beam during this year’s competition. It seemed like a missed opportunity to see these two incredible athletes showcase their skills on one of the most challenging apparatuses in gymnastics.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

Initially, it appeared that Jordan Chiles was out of contention for a medal as she ended her floor exercise final routine with a score of 13.666, placing her behind Romania’s Ana Barbosu in third place with a score of 13.700.

However, following an inquiry regarding Chiles’ score by Team USA, the judges reevaluated her performance and boosted her start value by one-tenth of a point. Consequently, her score was adjusted to 13.766, securing her the bronze medal. This unexpected turn of events left Barbosu in tears as she had already begun celebrating with her country’s flag.

In the aftermath, an emotional Barbosu shared a video of herself competing and expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her before, during, and after the competition.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

In the world of athletics, it’s not just gymnastics where medal adjustments occur. For instance, Faith Kipyegon from Kenya was initially stripped of her second place in the women’s 5,000 meters run at the Stade de France on August 5 due to a perceived jostle with Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia. This led to Kipyegon being disqualified. However, the Olympic Jury of Appeal later overturned the decision in the early hours of August 6, stating that while there was significant contact between the two athletes, it did not warrant a disqualification. Consequently, Nadia Battocletti from Italy, who had moved into bronze position due to Kipyegon’s disqualification, was once again placed in fourth position.

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

As a lifestyle expert, let me share a personal reflection on two heartbreaking moments at the Olympics:

Jordan Chiles’ Coach Slams Cheating Claims Amid Medal Controversy

Although a budget of $1.53 billion was set aside to clean up the consistently polluted Seine river, concerns about its safety persisted in the months leading to the Paris Olympics. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine on July 17 and declared it fit for use, but since the games began, it’s been a bit of a mess.

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2024-08-08 15:18