There was a lot of excitement in the Olympic women’s gymnastics competition on Monday as Jordan Chiles won bronze in the floor event after her coaches submitted a scoring inquiry. Originally, she was given a score of 13.666, which put her in fifth place. Her team questioned why she was not given credit for her tour jeté full, a skill that requires a complete twist. After the inquiry, her score was adjusted to 13.766, bumping her up to third place and knocking Romania’s Ana Bărbosu out of medal contention. The moment Jordan and her team realized she won bronze was filled with emotion and celebration, with Simone Biles even dropping an excited expletive.
Former gymnast Julia Konner explained that putting in an inquiry is not common, as athletes and coaches are not allowed to see the judges’ scoring notes. There is a time-crunch aspect to it, as the inquiry must be placed after the gymnast’s final score but before the next gymnast competes. There is also a risk involved, as the score could go up or down, and there is a fee to submit an inquiry. However, in this case, the inquiry paid off for Jordan, and she was able to secure a medal.
Konner mentioned that this type of scoring change has happened before in the Olympics, citing Aly Raisman’s experience in the 2012 London Games. This could potentially lead to more inquiries in the future, as athletes may not fully trust their scores. Jordan herself expressed her nerves during the routine and her surprise at her coach submitting an inquiry without her realizing. When the results came back in her favor, she felt incredibly proud of herself for earning her first event medal.
Overall, the scoring change in Jordan Chiles’ favor was a significant moment in the Olympic women’s gymnastics competition, showcasing the impact that inquiries can have on final results. It was a well-deserved win for Jordan, who worked hard to achieve success in her first event final. As she looks towards future competitions, she can carry this moment of pride with her as she continues to excel in her gymnastics career.