Jordan Chiles’ controversial gymnastics bronze under scrutiny as Romania protest their athletes’ score after USA star was bumped up to third | HO

The Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee is requesting a review of the decision making factors that led to one of its gymnasts missing out on a medal in yesterday’s women’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise final.

Two Romanian athletes, Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea, were jumped by American gymnast Jordan Chiles after Team USA lodged an appeal of Chiles’ difficulty score.

After a review, the judges corrected Chiles’ ‘D-score’ from a 5.8 to a 5.9, moving her up from fifth place to a bronze medal by 0.066 points over the two Romanians.

But the Internet has been in a debate about the two Romanians’ scores – particularly the score of Sabrina Voinea.

Voinea’s routine incurred a 0.100 point deduction for an unclear reason – seemingly because she may have stepped out of bounds during her routine.

Romania has lodged a protest of the score of gymnast Sabrina Maneca Voinea

Voinea was one of two Romanian gymnasts jumped by Jordan Chiles after a score correction

However, upon review, it appears that Voinea never stepped out of bounds – leaving many to wonder why the deduction was given in the first place.

Romanian gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci was among those leading the charge to take a second look at Voinea’s score.

‘This floor routine needs a review.. we need to protect athletes mental health for being there for them,’ the ex-gymnast wrote in a post on Twitter.

In a follow-up, Comaneci showed the video of Voinea turning around and coming close to, but not actually, touching her heel down out of bounds. The ex-gymnast wrote, ‘I don’t see the heel touching down.. do you?’

After Voinea’s score of 13.700 was posted, the Romanian team allegedly lodged a protest, which was denied by the judges.

Mihai Covaliu, the president of the Romanian Olympic Committee, officially sent a letter of protest to the International Gymnastics Federation in the aftermath of the result.

‘With respect to Olympic values, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee… respectfully requests you to order the re-analysis [of] the decision making factors of the case of the Romanian athlete Sabrina Maneca Voinea regarding the score given to the execution of the exercise in the floor final,’ the letter began.

‘We make this request based on the care that that International Olympic Committee and the entire world sports movement gives to the athlete.

Voinea incurred a 0.100 point deduction, but it’s not exactly clear what happened to earn that

Jordan Chiles competes in the floor routine of artistic gymnastics at the Paris Olympics

‘The way of assessing the score awarded and the refusal to fully present the reasons/evidence for the rejection of the appeal submitted within the deadline provided by the regulation brings serious damage both to the image of international gymnastics but especially affects the athlete, endangering [her] mental health.

‘The media coverage of the case of the Romanian sportswoman at the international level, her public declaration to give up practicing this sport as a result of today’s decision morally obliges the decision-makers to reanalyze, substantiate and communicate the final decision.

‘The balanced and objective policy that [the International Gymnastics Federation] promotes gives us confidence in the fair resolution of the presented case.’