As the last gymnast to compete in the Aug. 5 event, Jordan Chiles was aware of the score she needed to secure a medal. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade was set to win gold with a score of 14.166, USA’s Simone Biles silver with 14.133, and Romania’s Ana Barbosu bronze with 13.700.
After Chiles performed her Beyoncé-inspired routine, it initially seemed she had fallen short, receiving a score of 13.666 from the judges.
However, just before the medal ceremony, Team USA submitted a score inquiry regarding her routine.
What exactly is a gymnastics inquiry? According to NBC Olympics, “an inquiry is a verbal challenge of a routine’s score. It is followed by a written inquiry that must be submitted before the end of the rotation. The challenge can only be brought forward after the gymnast’s final score is posted and before the end of the next gymnast’s routine.” The inquiry can be reviewed via video.
Chiles was undoubtedly pleased the inquiry was made: Her score was adjusted to 13.766—earning her the bronze and bumping Barbosu off the podium.
Chiles jumped in the air with excitement over her new score, then burst into happy tears and joined gold medalist Andrade and silver medalist Biles to receive their medals. Meanwhile, Barbosu, who had been celebrating with the Romanian flag, dropped it in shock upon seeing her new placement. She was then seen crying as she left Paris’ Bercy Arena.
