2024-08-06 05:05:03
The skill in question for Chiles was a tour jete full – split leap followed by a full spin on the way down. Chiles did not receive credit for the full spin in the qualification round and initially did not receive credit for it in the final either.
Chiles’ coaches thought she performed the skill better than in qualifications and put in an inquiry for the judges to re-evaluate the skill.
“I was not confident but, what do you have to lose?” Chiles’ coach Laurent Landi said afterward. “She was off of the podium already … I had the same angle as the judges, and I felt it was way better than all the meets that she’s done. So, what the heck. You might as well try it, you know?”
After evaluation, the judges gave Chiles credit for the skill, which ultimately raised her score by 1 tenth of a point, which was enough to move her into bronze medal position.
“I’m on cloud nine,” Chiles said. “This is my first-ever (Olympic) individual event final, at my second Olympics. I have no words. Coming out with a medal… that was my goal, but that inquiry went in, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know what will happen. Will I go up or down?’ So I’m very happy where I’m at right now. This medal means everything to me. This is beyond words. I’m so proud of myself.”
