Jordan Chiles Bronze Medal Hangs in Balance While Romanian Rival’s Latest Move Gets USA Gymnastics Legend’s Acceptance

The gymnastics world will once again get to witness Jordan Chiles and Ana Barbosu competing against each other on the mats. This time it will be in the NCAA gymnastics realm! Official confirmation has come in regarding the fact that the Romanian gymnast will be donning the colors of Stanford University this season. Thus, with the competition getting tougher, Jordan Chiles will surely be training a lot harder than before.
Now, if Chiles faces the heat of trying to better herself further, things are not rosy for Barbosu either. After the huge controversy in Paris, Barbosu has been in constant limelight in Romania. The mental pressure and negativity almost got on Barbosu’s nerves. But now she has a new lease of opportunity through ‘Crazy Rich Athletes.’ This is an organization that helps young and promising young athletes realize and nurture their potential at the biggest stage.
Thus, when Andrei Secueșu, the founder of Crazy Rich Athletes, approached Barbosu with an opportunity to expand her wings in the US, the 18-year-old obliged immediately. It was on January 8, 2025, that the Romanian Gymnastics Federation officially announced her transition to Stanford. Now, there is a huge area of concern about how exactly Barbosu will be welcomed in the US. Thankfully, the Olympian has had a warm reception so far.
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Hearing the news of her transition, a couple of American gymnastics legends have expressed their excitement at the same. The official Instagram handle of Crazy Rich Athletes posted Barbosu’s latest commitment on January 7, 2025. Reacting to the news, Dominique Moceanu commented, “Congratulations! What a pleasant surprise. Can’t wait to see you compete in the NCAA. Go Romania!”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Crazy Rich Athletes (@crazyrichathletes)
While this was a significant development for Barbosu to feel comfortable, the praises did not stop. Kathy Johnson Clarke, too, expressed her joy in watching the young Romanian take center stage for one of the best NCAA colleges. She wrote, “I would have loved calling your routines, but watching them from home will be the next best thing to being there!” Surely, all these comments will help to calm Barbosu’s nerves. The warmth and compassion will let her settle into the US and focus on her career further.
On the flip side, Jordan Chiles will surely be tightening her shoelaces further. After all, there is a huge possibility of the two going one-on-one this season. And Chiles will be eager to prove herself and her team, the UCLA Bruins, as the better athletes this time around. Back in Paris, despite reigning supreme over her Romanian counterpart, a four-second mistake cost her an Olympic medal!
Jordan Chiles and her Olympic medal fiasco
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Jordan Chiles looked in ominous form in the Paris Olympics. Her incredible performance helped Team USA clinch the gold medal. Similarly, when she entered the women’s floor finals, Chiles was confident of getting a medal for herself. After her routine was done, the final scorecard showed Chiles below Ana Barbosu, with the Romanian securing the bronze.
via Reuters Paris 2024 Olympics – Artistic Gymnastics – Women’s Team Final – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – July 30, 2024. Jordan Chiles of United States during the Women’s Team Final. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
And then, the drama started. Cecile Landi submitted an inquiry which was granted. With a revised score, Chiles now stood third, with Barbosu displaced from her earlier position. As the glitz and glamour of winning an Olympic bronze medal dawned upon Chiles, the drama was unfortunately not over. With the Romanians resorting to the CAS, they found an astonishing mistake.
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According to the CAS ruling, Landi was 4 seconds late in submitting the inquiry, which made Chiles’ revised score void. Thus, they asked Chiles to return the medal and reinstated Barbosu as the bronze medalist. Now, with the rivalry spilling into the NCAA, it remains to be seen how things pan out for both.