American gymnast Jordan Chiles is pursuing a renewed effort to reclaim her Olympic bronze medal through the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland. Her legal team has submitted a new application based on previously unconsidered video evidence that they argue supports her case.
Chiles’ attorneys assert that footage from a documentary crew, which recorded the women’s gymnastics floor finals, reveals that her coach, Cecile Landi, made a timely inquiry about Chiles’ score. CAS had previously ruled that the inquiry was submitted four seconds late, leading to Chiles being stripped of her medal. The new evidence allegedly proves that the inquiry was indeed made within the required timeframe.
USA Gymnastics has joined the effort, claiming they possess additional footage that corroborates Chiles’ assertion of a timely challenge. They emphasize that this evidence should have been considered in the initial CAS decision, which they believe was based on a factual error.
The controversy arose after Chiles performed exceptionally in the floor exercise final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, initially finishing fifth with a score of 13.666. Following a successful inquiry, her score was revised to 13.766, enough to secure the bronze medal. However, the Romanian team contested this decision, leading to the CAS ruling that ultimately reversed the score and awarded the bronze to Romanian gymnast Ana Bǎrbosu.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has expressed its commitment to seeing Chiles recognized for her achievement, criticizing the handling of the case by CAS. They are determined to pursue justice for Chiles, who has made it clear that this case is about more than just a medal—it’s about fair treatment for all athletes.
As this situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland to see if they will reopen the proceedings based on the new evidence.