USA Gymnastics vows to take Jordan Chiles bronze medal fight to Swiss court after latest appeal denied

USA Gymnastics has announced its intention to take the fight for Jordan Chiles' bronze medal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) denied their latest appeal. The decision by the CAS has left USA Gymnastics and Chiles in a state of disappointment, as they believe that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a reconsideration of the ruling.

The controversy began during the women's individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Initially, Chiles was awarded a score of 13.666, placing her in fifth position behind Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who both scored 13.700. However, Chiles' coach, Cecile Landi, filed an appeal arguing that the difficulty of Chiles' routine had been undervalued, particularly a leap involving a 540-degree turn. The appeal was successful, and Chiles' score was adjusted to 13.766, elevating her to the bronze medal position.

The adjustment led to a historic moment as Chiles stood on the podium alongside gold medalist Rebeca Andrade and silver medalist Simone Biles, marking the first all-Black podium in gymnastics history. However, the celebration was short-lived. Romanian officials challenged the timing of Landi's appeal, claiming it was submitted four seconds past the one-minute deadline allowed for scoring inquiries.

The CAS sided with the Romanian officials, ruling that the appeal was indeed late and reverting Chiles' score back to 13.666. Consequently, the bronze medal was awarded to Barbosu. USA Gymnastics, however, contends that they have video evidence proving that the appeal was made within the allowed timeframe. Despite presenting this evidence, the CAS declined to reconsider the decision, citing their regulations which do not permit revisiting an arbitral award even with new evidence.

In a statement, USA Gymnastics expressed their disappointment with the CAS decision and reiterated their commitment to pursuing all possible avenues to ensure fair scoring and placement for Chiles. "We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan," the statement read.

The situation has drawn significant attention and sparked debate within the gymnastics community. Chiles, who had earned her first individual Olympic medal, expressed her dismay at the decision and announced a temporary break from social media to focus on her mental health. Fellow gymnasts, including Simone Biles and Suni Lee, have publicly shown their support for Chiles, emphasizing her resilience and sportsmanship.

Ana Barbosu, who was awarded the bronze medal, also commented on the situation, expressing her wish for fairness and understanding among athletes. In an Instagram post, she stated, "The situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation. We, as athletes, are not to be blamed, and the hate directed to us is painful."

As USA Gymnastics prepares to take the case to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, the outcome remains uncertain. The organization hopes that the higher court will consider the new evidence and ultimately reinstate Chiles' bronze medal. The case highlights ongoing challenges in the world of competitive gymnastics, where scoring disputes can have significant implications for athletes' careers and the integrity of the sport.