American gymnast Jordan Chiles made a notable appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards, where rapper Flavor Flav presented her with a bronze watch, a symbolic gesture reflecting her recent Olympic loss.
A Bronze Watch
This comes after Chiles was stripped of her bronze medal in the women’s floor exercise at the Paris Olympics, which was reassigned to Romania’s Ana Maria Bărbosu, according to Golazo.
Just a month after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided to award the bronze medal to Bărbosu, Chiles, who had initially finished off the podium, appeared at the star-studded MTV VMA event in New York.
On stage with Flavor Flav, Chiles was presented with a bronze watch in front of an enthusiastic crowd at UBS Arena. The rapper addressed the audience, acknowledging Chiles’ Olympic struggle:
“I know they tried to take your medal away,” he said. “I brought you something they can’t take away.”
The gesture left Chiles visibly moved, and she responded with, “Wow. I don’t even know what to say.”
Lost Love for the Sport
At the Forbes Power Women’s Summit held the same day, Chiles opened up about her emotional journey.
Reflecting on her Olympic experience, she described how her heart was broken by the decision and compared the situation to a difficult period in 2018 when she struggled with an emotionally abusive coach.
“It felt like I lost my love for the sport again,” Chiles shared with USA Today Sports. “It’s not just about the medal; it’s about my recognition and being heard.”
Chiles expressed gratitude for the support she’s received, despite the initial heartbreak.
“I’ve made history and will continue to do so. I followed the rules, and my coach did too. I will continue to shine and move forward,” she said.
