Unraveling the Drama: The Controversial Floor Routine of US Gymnast Jordan Childs at the Olympics

This floor routine that earned US gymnast Jordan Childs a score of 13.666 and initially a fifth place finish last Monday. Moments later, US head coach Cecile Landy placed an inquiry into the score, arguing that judges had undervalued the difficulty of Childs moves. Childs was given back a tenth of a point, boosting her score to 13.766, edging out two Romanian competitors who’d each received a 13.7, winning her a bronze medal and producing this iconic moment. The first time black gymnast Childs, fellow American Simone Biles, and Brazilian Rebecca Andrange took the top three spots in an Olympic event. Childs told us about it on Friday. Yes, it was a surreal moment. I didn’t know what I was, like what was happening because I saw the score change and I was just like, what is going on? Is this real? Is this happening? Romania’s gymnastics squad had the same questions and filed an appeal, alleging coach Landy’s inquiry came a minute and four seconds after Childs received her score. Just outside the one minute window allowed for filing such claims. On Saturday, an independent court upheld that appeal, voiding Childs adjusted score. And Sunday, the International Olympics Committee confirmed it would reallocate the bronze medal to Romanian Anna Barbasu. Former U.S. gymnast Dominic Dawes is a four-time Olympic medalist. Unfortunately, these are situations that do occur in the sport of gymnastics. She did her job. However, it’s those painful moments in life and athletics that really help build and shape our character.