When US gymnast Jordan Chiles was stripped of her medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she received a special gift from none other than the iconic ’90s rapper Flavor Flav. Known for his signature bedazzled clock necklaces, Flav presented Chiles with a custom bronze clock necklace designed by Rock’n Stones. The necklace featured hundreds of bronze rhinestones and bronze-colored clock hands set to 12:00 o’clock, making it a truly unique and one-of-a-kind piece.
Flav proudly shared a picture of the custom necklace on social media, hanging it from a white rope in front of an American flag. His caption referenced his 1990 hit with the hip-hop group Public Enemy, expressing solidarity with the USA. The rapper made it clear that he is a man of his word and wanted to show his support for Chiles during a challenging time.
The decision to strip Chiles of her medal came after a controversial score reversal by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). During the gymnastics floor exercise final, Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu initially secured the bronze medal with a score of 13.700. However, Chiles’ score was originally recorded as 13.666, but after a challenge from her coaches, the judges agreed to bump her score by 0.1 points, placing her in third place behind Simone Biles. Chiles even accepted the bronze medal on the podium alongside Biles and Brazilian gold medalist Rebeca Andrade.
Despite initially being awarded the bronze medal, Chiles had to relinquish it when the Romanian team successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). They argued that Chiles’ score adjustment was made after the one-minute deadline had passed. The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee expressed their disappointment in the decision and announced their plans to file an appeal. They believe that Chiles rightfully earned the bronze medal and highlighted errors in the scoring process that need to be addressed.
Following the controversy and loss of her medal, Chiles announced that she would be taking a break from social media for her mental health. She has not publicly addressed the situation or Flav’s generous gift. The timing of the custom necklace’s creation, less than 24 hours after Flav offered to make it, shows his quick and thoughtful gesture of support for the young athlete during a challenging time.
The story of Jordan Chiles and Flavor Flav’s gift of a custom bronze clock necklace is a poignant example of support and solidarity in the face of disappointment. While the controversy surrounding Chiles’ medal loss continues, the gesture from the ’90s rapper serves as a reminder of the importance of standing by others during their times of need.