After controversy resurfaced surrounding the women’s gymnastics floor final, the benefactor of a hot-button review is speaking out.
Romania’s Ana Barbosu, who was deemed the ultimate winner of the bronze medal in the event subsequent to a ruling that Team USA’s challenge for Jordan Chiles came too late — took to Instagram to express her feelings regarding the situation.
“Sabrina, Jordan, my thoughts are with you,” Barbosu, 18, wrote on her story, referring to compatriot Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who finished in fourth. “I know what you are feeling, because I’ve been through the same. 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 same podium. This is my true dream!”
Barbosu also tagged Simone Biles in the post.
In addition to her tremendous display of sportsmanship and respect, Barbosu seemed to call out the Olympic officials who backtracked in their judgment of who claimed the third podium spot.
“This situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation,” Barbosu wrote. “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 2024 Paris in the spirit of Olympism, the true value of the world.”
Barbosu was initially deemed the winner of the bronze medal in the floor event from Aug. 5, the final gymnastics competition from Paris.
However, Team USA submitted a successful request for review, at which point the 23-year-old American Chiles joined teammate Simone Biles on the podium — with the pair bowing to Brazilian gold medalist Rebeca Andrade in a remarkable picture.
But six days later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport concluded that Team USA’s challenge arrived after the one-minute deadline, effectively nullifying it.
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
At that point, Barbosu and teammate Maneca-Voinea shifted up a slot as they tied with a 13.700 score — giving Barbosu the bronze — while Chiles moved back to fifth with a 13.666.
Now Team USA is appealing that decision, claiming they have video evidence that they submitted the inquiry within 47 seconds of the judge’s ruling.
At the same time, other international diplomats — namely Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who boycotted Sunday’s closing ceremony over his gymnasts’ medals being voided — likely felt a profound sense of satisfaction.