In a ceremony held in the Romanian capital of Bucharest on Friday, gymnast Ana Barbosu was finally presented with the Olympic bronze medal she rightfully earned during the floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Games. The medal ceremony brought closure to a controversy that had swirled for over a month since the competition.
Barbosu had finished fourth in the event, but an appeal lodged by the United States team coach saw American Jordan Chiles incorrectly awarded the bronze. This decision sparked outrage in Romania and a review was requested of the appeals procedure. Months later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport sided with Barbosu, ruling that the U.S. appeal had exceeded the one-minute deadline.
At the ceremony, the gymnast expressed her joy at receiving the medal. “While I didn’t expect it to be so heavy, I would proudly wear it day and night,” she said. The resolution of the dispute was made possible through the persistence of Romanian gymnastics officials. Barbosu looked ahead to representing her country at future events and bringing home more accolades.
Speaking to media afterwards, Barbosu said the ordeal had been difficult for all involved but sent good thoughts to her American rivals. She hoped to see the sport treated with integrity moving forward. The medal returned Romania to the gymnastics podium for the first time since 2012, highlighting Barbosu’s significance as the nation builds for future success on the global stage.
