Jordan Chiles throws first pitch at Mets vs Reds as USA Olympic gymnast moves on from losing her Paris ‘heartbreak’ at losing bronze medal
Jordan Chiles threw out the first pitch Friday night before the New York Mets hosted the Cincinnati Reds in MLB, one of her most high-profile public appearances since losing her Olympic bronze medal.
Chiles, 23, walked onto Citi Field in Queens to a hearty cheer Friday night before throwing the ball in a must-win game for the Mets, who are battling the Atlanta Braves for the playoffs.
Earlier in the day, the gymnast was spotted preparing for her big moment by throwing pitches to Mets star Pete Alonso.
This came after Chiles controversially lost the bronze medal she thought she had won in the floor final in Paris to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu.
Chiles was initially ranked fifth in the final, but was awarded bronze on the floor exercise in Paris on August 5 after Team USA coach Cecile Landi objected to her athlete’s difficulty.
Jordan Chiles threw out the first pitch before the New York Mets hosted the Cincinnati Reds
It’s one of Chiles’ most notable performances since her Olympic medal was stripped
Chiles received loud cheers and applause as she left the Citi Filed office Friday evening
That challenge resulted in a .1 boost, putting Chiles at 13.766 — just ahead of Barbosu’s 13.700. Barbosu was already celebrating winning a medal when the boost to Chiles’ score was announced, leaving her in tears.
Chiles celebrated her victory on the podium that evening, but the medal was re-awarded to Barbosu after the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in a Romanian appeal, declared Landi’s appeal invalid on the day itself.
Former Team USA gymnast Laurie Hernandez said in August that she had spoken to Chiles and was heartbroken by what had happened.
“I’ve been reaching out a little bit,” Hernandez told E!. “I think she’s just in a lot of pain. There’s no words for it.”
“So Jordan had to give up that medal, but Romania won bronze again,” Hernandez continued.
‘It’s heartbreaking. And all of this is happening in public.
“My condolences go out to Jordan because it’s absolutely not her fault. It’s absolutely not her coach’s fault. It’s absolutely not the judge’s fault.”
Chiles controversially lost her Olympic bronze in the floor final at the Paris Games
Chiles has not been heard from much since losing her medal, aside from a brief hiatus from social media.
USA Gymnastics has vowed to appeal the ruling, saying the Court of Arbitration for Sport made serious errors in its handling of the investigation.