Jordan Chiles Olympic Medal Drama Continues as USA Gymnastics Submits New Evidence to Court
The ordeal stems from a score review that went down last week and later overturned by the Tribunal Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Jordan Chiles'' battle for the bronze medal she won in the floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Olympics has taken another turn. After it was reported that the 23-year-old gymnast would be stripped of the medal following the International Olympics Committee overturning her score, USA Gymnastics announced they had submitted new evidence to challenge the court ruling that had led to the decision.
The drama began when Chiles'' coach requested a difficulty score review, and the judges'' panel concluded that she was not properly credited for her skill routine. The initial 13.666 score had her in fifth place and off the podium, but the score review later boosted her up to 13.766 and into third, knocking Romania''s Ana Bărbosu''s 13.700 off the podium for the bronze medal. Brazil''s Rebeca Andrade took gold and Simone Biles took silver.
On Aug. 10, the Tribunal Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reverted the gymnast''s score from 13.766 to 13.666 after the Romanian team appealed to the review board, arguing that the judges in Monday''s floor exercise shouldn''t have allowed the score review because Chiles'' coach requested it four seconds after the one-minute window elapsed.
The CAS agreed with the Romanian team and ruled that Chiles'' final score in the floor exercise would return to the initial score of 13.666.
Chiles has spoken out about the twist of fate in a statement posted to her Instagram Story over the weekend.
"I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health thank you," Chiles wrote following a wave of abusive messages and posts sent to her on social media in the wake of her initial appeal and the presentation of the bronze medal.
Bărbosu posted a public message of solidarity with Chiles following the ruling, and said she felt for her in the wake of the news.
"Sabrina, Jordan, my thoughts are with you," she wrote. "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 the same podium. This is my true dream!"
"This situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation," she added. "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 Paris 2024 in the spirit of Olympism, the true value of the world."
Following the CAS ruling, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee released a joint statement slamming the decision.
"We are devastated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling regarding women''s floor exercise. The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles'' floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring," the statement read. "Throughout the appeal process, Jordan has been subject to consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks on social media. No athlete should be subject to such treatment. We condemn the attacks and those who engage, support or instigate them. We commend Jordan for conducting herself with integrity both on and off the competition floor, and we continue to stand by and support her."
Additionally, USA Gymnastics released a statement to social media on Sunday alleging that they have footage to prove the coach''s request for an inquiry was made within the allotted timeframe, and they are appealing the board''s decision.
"USA Gymnastics on Sunday formally submitted a letter and video evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, conclusively establishing that Head Coach Cecile Landi''s request to file an inquiry was submitted 47 seconds after publishing of the score, within the 1-minute deadline required of FIG rule," the statement said in part. "In the letter, USA Gymnastics requests that the CAS ruling be revised and Chiles'' bronze-medal score of 13.766 be reinstated."
USAG claims, "The video footage provided was not available to USA Gymnastics prior to the tribunal'' decision and thus USAG did not have the opportunity to previously submit it."
Chiles -- who, in all likelihood, is to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles -- earned a gold medal as part of Team USA winning the all-around competition this year.
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