A controversy erupted at the Paris Olympics involving Romanian gymnasts Sabrina Voinea and Ana Bărbosu, alongside American gymnast Jordan Chiles, who secured third place. The dispute centers around the scoring in the floor final held on Monday, according to Ziare.
Sabrina Voinea, who finished fifth, claimed she received an unfairly low score, alleging improper deductions. Ana Bărbosu was initially awarded the bronze medal but was later stripped of it following a protest by Chiles, who competed last in the event.
As a result of the protest, Chiles received the bronze medal, prompting a flood of supportive messages for the Romanian gymnasts on social media.
In response, Chiles posted a message on Instagram, that can be interpreted as somewhat arrogant:
"Words cannot express how proud I am of myself... it was an amazing experience, and your girl is now an individual medalist! Thank you all for your love and support, I truly appreciate it! My gymnastics speaks louder than many people's words... I did it!"
Jordan Chiles: A Rising Star in Gymnastics
Jordan Chiles has been a prominent figure in American gymnastics for several years. Born on April 15, 2001, in Tualatin, Oregon, Chiles began gymnastics at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks. She trains at the World Champions Centre in Texas, under the guidance of Laurent and Cecile Landi, the same coaches who train Simone Biles.
Chiles made her mark on the international stage in 2017 when she won a silver medal at the U.S. National Championships. Despite facing setbacks and injuries, she persevered and secured a spot on the U.S. women's gymnastics team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she helped her team win a silver medal in the team competition.
The Rules and Scoring in Floor Gymnastics
Gymnastics floor routines are judged based on a combination of difficulty and execution. Each routine is composed of various elements, including tumbling passes, dance movements, and leaps. The difficulty score (D-score) is determined by the value of the elements performed, while the execution score (E-score) starts at 10 and deductions are made for any errors or flaws in performance.
Judges look for precise technique, height in leaps and tumbling, synchronization with music, and overall artistry. Deductions can be made for a range of issues, including steps on landings, bent legs, lack of amplitude, and artistry deductions for insufficient expression or poor composition.
In the highly competitive environment of the Olympics, even minor errors can make the difference between medaling and missing the podium. The subjective nature of scoring often leads to disputes, as seen in the recent controversy involving Voinea, Bărbosu, and Chiles.
