Incident Overview: During the women’s floor exercise event at the Paris Olympics, Romania’s Ana Barbosu initially believed she had won a bronze medal when Jordan Chiles of the USA received a score of 13.666
Score Change: The situation changed dramatically when Chiles' score was revised to 13.766 following an inquiry. This adjustment pushed Chiles to a podium finish and displaced Barbosu, who was left devastated
Barbosu’s Reaction: Ana Barbosu, who had begun celebrating with her country’s flag, was visibly upset and left the floor in tears upon learning of the score revision
Nadia Comaneci’s Response: Gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci, known for her historic perfect 10 performance at the 1976 Olympics, criticized the decision and the impact it had on the athletes.
Comaneci’s Achievements: Nadia Comaneci won five gold medals during her Olympic career and was the first gymnast to receive a perfect 10 score at the 1976 Summer Games. Her comments carried significant weight
Team USA’s Perspective: Team USA coach Cecile Landi defended the decision to request a score inquiry, stating that they had nothing to lose and were surprised by the outcome. Landi’s comments highlighted the competitive nature
Barbosu’s Background: Ana Barbosu, 18, was competing in her first Olympics. She had a successful junior career, winning six gold medals at the 2020 Junior European Championships and securing top finishes in national and international competitions