Jordan Chiles speaks out against “Unjust” Olympic medal decision
However, her coaches decided to submit an inquiry on her behalf. According to NBC Olympics, an inquiry is a challenge to a routine’s score that must be made verbally and then submitted in writing before the end of the rotation. This challenge can only be made after the gymnast’s final score is announced and before the next gymnast’s routine begins.
If the gymnast is the last to perform, there is a one-minute time limit starting after the score is displayed on the scoreboard, as stated by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
The inquiry was specifically about a split leap known as the tour jeté full in Chiles’ routine.
Olympian and NBC gymnastics analyst John Roethlisberger explained during the broadcast, “In the team qualification and final, she did not receive credit for this skill. Initially, the judges did not recognize it as a valid skill. Cecile and Laurent Landi, her coaches, believed she performed it better in the final and decided to submit an inquiry.”
After reviewing Chiles’ routine, the judges accepted the inquiry and awarded her 0.1 additional points for the leap, increasing her score to 13.766 and securing her third place.
Chiles was overwhelmed with happiness upon seeing the results as she won the bronze medal. In contrast, Barbosu, who had already begun celebrating her own performance with Romania’s flag, lost her spot on the podium.