American gymnast, Jordan Chiles’ legal team has taken a bold step by submitting a new application to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, seeking a review of the controversial decision that cost her an Olympic bronze medal.
This follows the discovery of new video evidence that Chiles’ lawyers argue could turn the tide in her favour.
The request is focused on reopening the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s proceedings, which they claim did not consider this crucial footage during the initial hearing. CAS, a prominent legal body for resolving sports disputes, is headquartered in Switzerland.
The fresh application is anchored in evidence captured by a documentary crew during the women’s gymnastics floor finals.
According to Chiles’ attorneys, the footage directly contradicts CAS’s ruling. They argue that the court’s previous decision, which stripped Chiles of her bronze medal, was based on a factual error, and compounded by the fact that Chiles had less than a day to prepare for her hearing.
“The evidence in question – footage from a documentary crew that was recording the women’s gymnastics floor finals – proves that CAS’s prior decision rested on a critical factual error that was compounded by the fact that CAS allowed Chiles less than a day to prepare for her hearing,” her legal team stated in a press release.
CAS had ruled that Chiles’ coach missed the window to file an inquiry by four seconds, resulting in the reversal of her upgraded score.
However, the new footage, according to her legal representatives, demonstrates that the inquiry was, in fact, submitted on time.
Backing up her claim, USA Gymnastics also filed its own brief in support of reopening the case, asserting that their footage corroborates Chiles’ stance.
They insisted the new evidence “definitively proves coach Cecile Landi filed an inquiry into Jordan Chiles’s score well within 1 minute required by FIG rules.”
The organization went on to explain the importance of this audiovisual proof: “The audiovisual evidence which CAS refused to consider clearly proves Jordan’s bronze-medal finish in Paris was correct,” USAG said. “With today’s filing, we are simply asking that the CAS arbitration be decided based on a true and accurate understanding of facts. As Jordan has publicly stated, the case at this point is about her peace and justice, and the right of all athletes to be treated fairly. We all continue to pursue justice for Jordan.”
The dispute began after Chiles competed in the floor final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Initially, her score of 13.666 was only enough to place her in fifth position.
However, her coaches believed that the difficulty score had been miscalculated, prompting them to challenge the judges’ decision. Their inquiry succeeded, and an additional 0.1 points were added to Chiles’ final score, boosting her total to 13.766 – enough to claim the bronze medal.
This change sparked controversy, particularly from Romania, where gymnast Ana Bǎrbosu had originally been set to take home the bronze.
The Romanian team contested that Chiles’ inquiry was submitted after the one-minute deadline, a claim that CAS ultimately upheld, ruling that the challenge had been filed four seconds late. As a result, Chiles’ score was reverted to 13.666, placing her back in fifth, and the bronze medal was awarded to Bǎrbosu.
The decision not only ignited an international debate but also drew the attention of the Romanian prime minister, who publicly announced his intention to boycott the Olympics’ closing ceremony in protest over the treatment of Bǎrbosu.
Chiles’ latest legal move comes after her initial appeal to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland on September 16. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has remained firmly in Chiles’ corner, vowing to ensure she receives the recognition they believe she deserves.
“Due to the egregious errors and oversight by CAS in handling the case and overlooking clear evidence of Jordan’s rightful Bronze win, we are determined to ensure she receives the recognition she deserves. Our commitment to truth in this matter remains steadfast,” the USOPC reiterated to CNN last week.
As the legal battle unfolds, both Chiles and her supporters continue to pursue what they see as overdue justice for the gymnast, whose quest for fairness has now moved from the gym floor to the courtroom.
