Simone Biles has rallied behind fellow US gymnast Jordan Chiles who is set to lose her Olympic bronze medal just five days after winning it.
The team USA poster girl said she was sending ‘so much love’ to her teammate, telling the 23-year-old to ‘keep your chin up’ as she faces being stripped of the medal she won in the women’s floor final on Monday.
Chiles came third in the event after her score of 13.666, which had initially placed her fifth, was bumped up by 0.1 following an appeal from the US coach.
But, in a bombshell ruling today, the Court of Arbitration of Sport ruled the judging panel were wrong to allow Chiles’ score to be increased and said the initial finishing order should be restored.
Chiles took to Instagram to say she was removing herself from social media ‘for my mental health’, while her teammate Biles said: ‘Sending you so much love Jordan. Keep your chin up Olympic champ! We love you!’
Elsewhere, Chiles’ sister Jazmin issued a scathing response to the controversy, writing on Instagram on Saturday ‘Please keep Jordan (and my family) in your prayers. Racism is real, it exists, it is alive and well.’