The 2024 Paris Olympics allowed us to watch our favorite Olympians give it their all and witness amazing performances from a handful of athletes, however controversial did stories unfold.

U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles found herself in the center of a medal controversy in the women’s floor exercise final taking place on Aug. 5 at the Accor Arena in Paris.

Chiles’ floor exercise performance led to the stripping of her bronze medal and remains one of the most heartbreaking stories of the Olympics.

The 23-year-old gymnast earned a bronze medal after a judging error was made in her floor exercise performance.

Chiles did her job in giving her best performance only for the judges to mess it up by not doing their jobs correctly.

Chiles’ coach, Cécile Canqueteau-Landi submitted an inquiry in boosting her score in the floor exercise from 13.666 to 13.766 to earn a bronze medal, according to CNN. 

However, days later a decision made by the International Olympic Committee ordered Chiles to give back her medal after, according to CNN. 

The bronze medal Chiles’ initially earned speaks volumes to questions of fairness, accuracy, and the emotional toll of the Olympic games and also the pressure on the judges scoring correctly.

The sudden removal of her bronze medal not only invalidates her incredible performance but also the mental health that comes with high-stakes competition. 

After hearing the news of her medal stripped away, Chiles posted to her Instagram story that she will take a break from social media to focus on her mental health, according to CBS News.

According to CNN, The International Olympic Committee  and the U.S. have been going back and forth in the situation as the United States gymnastics team has shown support for Chiles. Chiles eventually broke her silence on Instagram, expressing her thoughts. “I have no words,” Chiles wrote on Instagram. “This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey.”

In her statement, Chiles feels justice needs to be brought in a mishandled situation. The gymnast added to her statement that she appreciates all that the United States of America Gymnastics (USAG) did to earn her correct score.

“I had confidence in the appeal brought by USAG, who gave conclusive evidence that my score followed all the rules,” Chiles added.

The weight of an Olympic medal represents years of hard work, personal sacrifice, and unyielding commitment. 

It’s crucial to acknowledge how this situation has likely influenced her mental health, creating an environment of uncertainty.

The situation also highlights the broader issue of accountability within sports judging, that mistakes in scoring can have far-reaching consequences.

 The part of competitive sports relies on the performances of the athletes and the public in the fairness of the judging process. 

It was not only heartbreak for U.S. gymnastics, but also Romania as well.       

Romanian gymnasts Ana Bărbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea were originally placed third and fourth with both earning a score of 13.700 that put Chiles in fifth, according to USA Today.

Bărbosu had originally taken the bronze and minutes later she was seen bursting in tears when finding out there had been a change in Chiles’ score, according to USA Today. 

Meanwhile, Maneca-Voinea’s score still remains a mystery as she deducted 0.1 of her score and video evidence showed she did not step out of bounds of her floor routine. 

The emotional toll on athletes, coaches, and fans is undeniable, creating a shared sense of anguish that transcends national boundaries. 

The collective heartbreak illustrates the universal nature of the human experience in sports – the joy of victory and the pain of perceived injustice.

Jordan Chiles deserves to be recognized not just for her athletic prowess but for her resilience in adversity. 

The stripping of her bronze medal is not merely a matter of lost accolades but a profound injustice that affects her mental health and questions the integrity of the judging process. 

When it comes to big sporting events such as the Olympics, it is important to value fairness, accuracy, and the well-being of its athletes. Jordan Chiles’ story is a reminder of the need for compassion and accountability in the world of sports.

The U.S. gymnast should have gotten the score she rightfully deserved the first time when the judges were scoring. She is a true champion and will forever be remembered for standing on the podium.