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September 9, 2024
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The battle over Jordan Chiles’ Olympic bronze medal is far from over. Yesterday, Chiles’ legal team announced they had formally appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal regarding the women’s floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This appeal challenges a previous ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which stripped Chiles of her bronze medal and dropped her to fifth place.
Chiles had initially moved up to third place after successfully contesting the judges’ scoring of an element in her routine. However, CAS later ruled that her coach’s inquiry was submitted four seconds beyond the allowed one-minute window, leading to Chiles being bumped back to fifth. As a result, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) requested that Chiles return the bronze medal, which was subsequently awarded to Romania’s Ana Barbosu.
In a statement, Chiles’ attorney, Maurice Suh, criticised the process as unfair, saying, “Jordan Chiles’ appeal raises a clear question—will the international community stand by while an athlete is stripped of a medal due to fundamental unfairness?” He argued that the Olympic arbitration process, like the rest of the Games, should uphold principles of fair play.
Chiles’ legal team also plans to submit an additional petition to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, seeking further remedies. They hope this could lead to a retrial before CAS, where Chiles would be able to present new evidence, including video footage that reportedly proves the inquiry was submitted on time.
Alt: Jordan Chiles on the Podium with Rebecca Andrade and Simone Biles after she won the Bronze medal at Paris 2024
Appealing to Switzerland’s highest court is an unusual move, as CAS is typically the final authority in international sports disputes. The Swiss Tribunal only overturns CAS rulings in cases involving procedural violations, lack of jurisdiction, or violations of public policy. Chiles’ attorneys argue the CAS ruling was flawed because Chiles was not allowed to present key evidence and was unaware of a potential conflict of interest involving the president of the arbitration panel.
Chiles’ appeal has received backing from both the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and USA Gymnastics (USAG), who have criticized CAS’ handling of the case. USAG claims they were informed of the dispute too late and were not given adequate time to prepare. Additionally, both organizations have expressed disappointment that CAS did not reconsider the video evidence proving Chiles’ inquiry was submitted within the time limit.
The dispute hinges on a mere tenth of a point, the difference between Chiles and Barbosu securing the bronze medal. Chiles’ coaches had filed an inquiry, believing she was not given full credit for her split leap, known as a tour jeté full. The inquiry was initially successful, earning Chiles an additional 0.10 points, moving her into third place and knocking Barbosu off the podium.
Alt: Ana Barbosu
However, after the Romanian Gymnastics Federation challenged the timing of the inquiry, CAS ruled in their favor, ordering the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to adjust the results. This led the IOC to request the return of Chiles’ medal.
Despite the setback, Chiles remains determined to fight for justice. Speaking recently, she emphasized that the issue was about more than the medal, stating, “At this point, it’s about my peace and my justice.”
Chiles’ case now rests in the hands of the Swiss Federal Tribunal, where she hopes to finally resolve the matter and reclaim her rightful place on the podium.
The New evidence submitted:
