The 2024 Olympic Games might be over, but its spirit sure lives on — thanks to Flavor Flav.
After learning about the controversy surrounding the women’s gymnastics floor final, the rapper has ensured that Team USA’s Jordan Chiles is not left empty-handed.
Chiles, 23, was this week stripped of her third-place bronze medal in the women’s floor final on August 5 following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s controversial ruling.
To soften the blow, the “Fight The Power” hitmaker, 65, wanted to give the athlete a special piece of jewelry she can keep as a souvenir from this year’s Games.
“Ayyy YOOOO @ChilesJordan,” he wrote on X Sunday. “Imma make you a BRONZE CLOCK NECKLACE,,, and that’s something NO ONE else has!!! Hit me up my girl,,, I gotchu,!!!”
Just one day later, the rapper delivered on his promise.
“USA gonna Fight the Powers that be,,, in the meantime between time,,, Imma always a man of my word @ChilesJordan,” he wrote in a follow-up post.
The medal-sized bejeweled timepiece, which can be worn as a necklace, is encrusted with diamonds.
“Flavor Flav has a clock maker on standby or something,” one fan wrote, after which the rapper revealed that the piece was made by Keliz of the ROCK’N STONES, who is known for her blinged-out clocks.
The welcome surprise comes just days after controversy unfolded following the women’s gymnastics floor final.
Romania’s Ana Barbosu was initially deemed the winner of the bronze medal, however Team USA submitted a successful request for review, at which point Chiles joined teammate Simone Biles on the podium — with the pair bowing to Brazilian gold medalist Rebeca Andrade in a remarkable picture.
But six days later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport concluded that Team USA’s challenge arrived after the one-minute deadline, effectively nullifying it.
At that point, Barbosu and teammate Maneca-Voinea shifted up a slot as they tied with a 13.700 score — giving Barbosu the bronze — while Chiles moved back to fifth with a 13.666.
Barbosu later expressed her feelings on the situation.
“Sabrina, Jordan, my thoughts are with you,” Barbosu, 18, wrote on her Instagram Story, referring to compatriot Maneca-Voinea, who finished in fourth.
“I know what you are feeling, because I’ve been through the same. But I know you’ll come back stronger. I hope from deep of my heart that at the next Olympics, all three of us will share same podium. This is my true dream!”
Barbosu also tagged Simone Biles in the post.
Barbosu also seeingly called out the Olympic officials who backtracked in their judgment of who claimed the third podium spot.
“This situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation,” Barbosu wrote. “We, athletes are not to be blamed, and the hate directed to us is painful. I wanted to end this edition of the Olympic Games 2024 Paris in the spirit of Olympism, the true value of the world.”
Now Team USA is appealing that decision, claiming they have video evidence that they submitted the inquiry within 47 seconds of the judge’s ruling.
They plan to continue the appeal process, which includes escalating the case to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
Flavor Flav, for his part, has been one of Team USA’s main hype men during the 2024 Games.
The rapper has made his support for female athletes known on several occasions, and even teamed up with Serena Williams’ husband and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian to donate over $7,000 to track and field athlete Veronica Fraley, who was struggling to pay rent.
