"I feel like Jordan Chiles should have been protected" - Allyson Felix expresses disappointment over gymnast's Paris Olympic bronze medal controversy

Allyson Felix shared that Jordan Chiles' bronze medal saga broke her heart and as a mother, she felt the gymnast should have been protected. Chiles initially won the bronze medal in the floor exercise event at the Paris Olympics after her Team's appeal to FIG.

However, CAS overturned the decision due to some factors and the gymnast was asked to return her medal, with Romania's Ana Barbosu being adjudged the bronze medalist.

Allyson Felix, who is one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time, retired from her sport in 2022 but continues to advocate for women athletes. She waw recently elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (eight-year term), which will help her design better Olympic experiences for athletes, especially competing mothers.

From her perspective as a mother, Felix was disappointed to learn about gymnast Jordan Chiles' floor bronze medal saga, which she felt had spoiled the latter's entire Olympic experience. The former Olympian also shared that Chiles should have been protected.

"My heart just broke for her because I feel like it tainted her entire Olympic Games. I was in the village campaigning for the IOC election the morning that the gymnastics team went to their team competition, and I ran into all the girls. They were just so excited and so happy and hopeful," she said. (via Glamour)

"She’s such a young girl and, as a mother, I just feel like she should have been protected. None of this is on her at all, but she’s the one dealing with all of the effects of it," Felix added.

Jordan Chiles was initially awarded the fifth position in the individual floor competition at the Paris Olympics. However, her team appealed for a score change since one of her leaps wasn't judged properly and she earned the bronze. Following the medal ceremony, on the Romanian Gymnastics Federation's request, CAS ruled that Team USA's appeal came in after the one-minute deadline and Chiles' bronze medal should be returned.

Allyson Felix reacted to experiencing the Olympics in a different way in Paris

Allyson Felix at the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation 2023 Gala (Image Source: Getty)

The seven-time Olympic gold medalist competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won the 400m bronze and gold as part of the 4x400m relay team. She graced the 2024 Paris Olympics as well but not as a competitor. Allyson Felix talked about feeling a sense of loss but experiencing a different Olympics with her daughter, Camryn, and her five-month-old son, Kenneth Maurice Ferguson III.

"I wasn’t sure what to expect. There’s this loss and grief over part of it. I’m really glad that I’m at this point in my life right now where I do get to do this. Yeah, I have to pump at opening ceremonies, but I also have these two beautiful children and they’re with me at work and I get to take this all in with them," she said. (via Glamour)

Allyson Felix set up a nursery at the heart of the Olympic Village in Paris, which offered space, opportunity, and equipment for the parent athletes to bond with their children. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well, she sponsored childcare grants for competing mothers, in partnership with the Women's Sports Foundation and Athleta.