Many fans are eager to understand how Jordan Chiles secured the bronze medal in the Olympic floor exercise final. The process involved a strategic review by her coaches, which led to a critical score adjustment and ultimately her placement on the podium.
Here’s a look at the gymnastics inquiry process, why Jordan Chiles’ score changed, and its impact on the competition results.
Why did Jordan Chiles’ score change?
Jordan Chiles’ score changed after her coaches submitted a review regarding her floor routine.
Initially, her score was 13.666, which placed her in fifth position. Her coaches questioned why she was not given credit for completing a tour jeté full element, a move that involves a full twist during a split leap.
Upon reviewing the inquiry, the judges acknowledged that Chiles had successfully executed the tour jeté full. This recognition increased her difficulty score by 0.1 points, raising her overall score to 13.766. This change moved her from fifth to third place, allowing her to win the bronze medal and displacing Romania’s Ana Bărbosu from the podium.
How did Jordan Chiles get the bronze medal?
Jordan Chiles won bronze in the Olympic floor exercise after her coaches filed a score inquiry. Initially scored 13.666 and placed fifth, the review focused on crediting her tour jeté full element.
An inquiry in gymnastics is a formal challenge of the judges’ scoring. It involves submitting a verbal request, followed by a written one, to re-evaluate a specific element. In Chiles’ case, her coaches argued that the judges did not correctly credit the tour jeté full—a move involving a full twist during a split leap—in her difficulty score.
The judges’ review confirmed that Chiles had indeed completed the tour jeté full, resulting in a score adjustment from 13.666 to 13.766. This increase elevated her from fifth to third place, displacing Romania’s Ana Bărbosu and securing the bronze medal for Chiles.
The inquiry process can be risky, as scores can either increase or decrease based on the judges’ re-evaluation. It requires the gymnast’s federation to pay a fee and submit the challenge promptly after the initial score is posted. Despite the potential risks, Chiles’ coaches decided to pursue the inquiry, knowing there was little to lose given her initial placement.
