Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, has declared that he will not attend the Olympic closing ceremony due to his country being denied a medal in women’s gymnastics.
On Monday, Ana Barbosu was celebrating her bronze medal for the floor event when coaches from the United States filed an appeal regarding Jordan Chiles’ score. The appeal led to a 0.1 increase in Chiles’ score, surpassing Barbosu and securing the final spot on the podium.
In a statement on Facebook, Ciolacu expressed his decision not to participate in the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, citing the “scandalous situation” in gymnastics where Romanian athletes were treated dishonorably. He condemned the withdrawal of a medal earned through honest work based on an appeal, deeming it completely unacceptable.
Ciolacu assured that Romania would recognize Barbosu and her teammate Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who finished fifth, as Olympic medallists. He emphasized that the nation stands behind them, valuing their hard work and dedication more than any medal, regardless of its material value.
Barbosu held a Romanian flag as she glanced upwards and noticed the alteration in the scoreboard’s scoring. Her grip on the flag loosened, her hands instinctively covered her face, and she departed with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Inquiries are customary during gymnastics competitions, allowing athletes or coaches to request a review of a routine to ensure accurate evaluation of its elements. Scores have the potential to be modified, either increased or decreased.
Romania was once an influential force in gymnastics, and this marked their return to the Olympic stage after a hiatus of 12 years. The esteemed Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, expressed her disbelief, articulating on X: “It is unfathomable that we manipulate athletes’ mental well-being and emotions in this manner.”
