Jordan Chiles Medal Ruling Might Be Overturned: Olympic Update
After weeks of chaos and confusion, attorneys on behalf of Team USA gymnastics star Jordan Chiles have filed an appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal in a latest attempt to get her Olympic bronze medal back.
On Monday, September 16, Chiles' legal representatives filed the formal appeal with Switzerland's Supreme Court in hopes of overturning the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) ruling that stripped Chiles of her medal, won for the individual floor event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Keep scrolling for everything we know about the case and its updates.
Jordan Chiles' appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal over her Olympic bronze medal
Chiles' appeal comes weeks after her bronze medal was stripped and awarded to Romania’s Ana Barbosu, sparking an impassioned debate about the Olympic scoring.
During the individual floor event, Chiles scored 13.666 for her routine, landing in fifth place overall. However, her coach, Cecile Landi, filed an inquiry after Chiles came off the floor which resulted in her score being raised by one-tenth of a point. The adjustment brought the gymnast up to third place, pushing Barbosu into fourth. Chiles was visibly moved by the successful inquiry, and took to the podium to receive her medal. Just days after, however, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation would file an appeal to CAS, refuting the timing of Landi's inquiry.
Per the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), inquiries must be submitted within a one minute window after a routine is completed. The Romanian Gymnastics Federation successfully argued that Landi's inquiry was four seconds too late, resulting in the stripping of Chiles' medal.
The fight did not end there, however, and the USA Gymnastics quickly pushed back on the decision, offering video that showed Landi submitted the inquiry after 47 seconds, well within the allotted window of time.
Thus bringing us back to the latest in the case, as Chiles' attorneys are presenting their side of the story to the Swiss courts. In the formal appeal filed in mid-September, the legal counsel argued that the decision made by CAS violated the gymnast's "right to be heard" and was "procedurally deficient." They posited that CAS refused to take the video evidence of Landi into consideration that "showed her inquiry was submitted on time," while also bringing attention to the president of the CAS panel, Hamid Gharavi. Unbeknown to Chiles at the time, Ghavari has served as Romania's legal counsel, thus prompting Chiles' attorneys to argue "a serious conflict of interest."
The outcome of the appeal is ongoing as of publication.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51F27uwFIy0
Former Olympians have chimed in on Jordan Chiles’ performance and Olympic medal
Three-time gold medalist Aly Raisman shared her thoughts on the bronze medal controversy, explaining that the situation is “completely devastating.”
“This is just so heartbreaking, and I’m just so gutted for Jordan. I can’t even imagine what this past week has been like for Jordan and the other athletes involved.” She continued, “I don’t think people realize these gymnasts work their entire lives for this moment, and it’s supposed to be a celebration. This was one of my favorite moments at the Olympics, watching Jordan celebrate. I think it’s so unfair. It’s so cruel.”
Simone Biles and Suni Lee have also shared what they think about the situation. “Sending you so much love Jordan," Biles wrote in an Instagram Story. "Keep your chin up olympic champ! We love you!
Jamie Squire / Staff / Getty
Lee wrote, “All this talk about the athlete, what about the judges?? Completely unacceptable. This is awful and I’m gutted for Jordan," she wrote. "I got your back forever Jo. (You) have all my flowers and you will ALWAYS be an Olympic champion.”
Chiles, meanwhile, has stayed off social media throughout the deliberations, telling followers that she would be stepping away from the spotlight during the back and forth.
“I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health thank you,” she wrote on her Instagram Story ahead of the ruling.
Find more Olympic content here!
Salt Lake City Will Host the 2034 Winter Olympics: How It Was Chosen
The Most Shocking Rule Olympians Must Follow
Mary Lou Retton’s Perfect 10 Floor Routine Is Timeless: Watch It