Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav has revealed the custom bronze clock he’s had made for Olympic gymnast, Jordan Chiles, this week (August 12).
The gymnast was ordered to return a bronze medal that she won at the Paris Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Chiles competed in the individual floor exercise at the Olympics and was awarded a bronze medal after an initial appeal from her coach altered her score.
However, after this, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation filed an appeal of their own that reversed the decision after it was ruled that Chiles’ coach made her appeal just four seconds too late.
The IOC then subsequently announced on August 11 that the bronze medal had been reallocated to Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu. The USA Gymnastics team has since challenged the ruling with video evidence of Chiles’ coach appealing the decision in time and has said it aims to “pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal” (as per Consequence).
When news of this emerged, Flav promised to make a custom bronze clock necklace for Chiles after the decision.
Now, Flav has posted an image of the jewellery on his Instagram page. “USA gonna Fight The Powers that be,” he wrote in the caption. He added: “but in the meantime between time, I gots yo back @jordanchiles Hit me up.”
While Chiles is not on social media currently following news of the decision, her mother Gina posted on her account, saying the gesture “means the world” to her daughter.
You can see the posts here:
Ayyy YOOOO @ChilesJordan ,,, imma make you a BRONZE CLOCK NECKLACE,,, and that’s something NO ONE else has,!!! Hit me up my girl,,, I gotchu,!!! pic.twitter.com/qFVzkgkx25
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 11, 2024
Thank you. Means the world. She’s not on socials right now as you can imagine. I’ll share it with her. https://t.co/HzavHHYxhp
— Gina Chiles (@gina_chiles) August 13, 2024
Flavor Flav has been heavily involved in the Paris Olympics, becoming one of the surprise viral hits of the games as the “official hype man” for the US women’s water polo team.
“This is quite an experience for me right now, you know, because the only time I’ve ever seen the Olympics was on TV,” Flav said about his new role. “You know what I’m saying? But I always wanted to see what it felt like being there.”
Flav got on board with the water polo team in May when team captain Maggie Steffens put out a call for financial support. The hip-hop icon responded, writing: “As a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports – imma personally sponsor you my girl, whatever you need. And imma sponsor the whole team.”
He then signed a five-year sponsorship deal with the US women’s and men’s water polo teams, vowing to “elevate the visibility and excitement surrounding water polo in the United States”.
He was then also honoured with his own Olympics-themed Funko POP! doll.
The hip-hop legend’s involvement with the US Olympics team is being celebrated with the limited-edition item that will only be available until August 16.
Named ‘POP: Team USA USAWP Flavor Flav’, orders can be placed this week, with shipping estimated in December. Each sale will include a donation to Team USA’s Water Polo fund. You can buy yours here.
He becomes the latest music figure to receive the honour, following on from the likes of Ice Spice, The Cure, Slipknot, Liam and Noel Gallagher, The White Stripes, Metallica, Post Malone and the late Eddie Van Halen.
Flav’s eclectic 2024 has already seen him out himself as a Swiftie, announce a new reality show where he will earn his high school diploma, and order an entire red lobster menu to save a seafood restaurant.
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