Jordan Chiles Appeals to Swiss Supreme Court to Reclaim Olympic Bronze Medal

Sports John Brightwater September 17, 2024

Jordan Chiles Appeals to Swiss Supreme Court to Reclaim Olympic Bronze Medal

Summary
American gymnast Jordan Chiles has appealed to the Swiss Supreme Court for the reinstatement of her bronze medal in floor exercise from the 2024 Olympics after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport invalidated her coach’s timely appeal. Supported by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Chiles contests the CAS decision on grounds of procedural fairness and potential conflicts of interest. This marks the beginning of what may be a drawn-out legal dispute over Olympic scoring protocols.

American gymnast Jordan Chiles has formally petitioned the Swiss Supreme Court to revoke a prior ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that resulted in the revocation of her bronze medal earned in the floor exercise at the 2024 Olympic Games. Chiles’ appeal was submitted on Monday, with backing from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Gymnastics, following a prior CAS decision that invalidated an appeal concerning her score made by Coach Cecile Landi during the finals on August 5, which had originally elevated Chiles’ placement from fifth to third. The CAS, in response to a request from Romanian officials, determined that Landi’s appeal was lodged four seconds past the allotted one-minute timeframe for scoring queries, thereby recommending the reinstatement of the original scoring order. The International Gymnastics Federation acted in accordance with this ruling, leading to the International Olympic Committee awarding the bronze medal to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu on August 16. Chiles’ appeal argues that the CAS failed to observe her “right to be heard” by rejecting video evidence presented by Chiles and USA Gymnastics, which purportedly demonstrates that the appeal was submitted within the permissible time limit. Furthermore, the appeal raises concerns over a potential conflict of interest involving Hamid G. Gharavi, the president of the CAS panel, citing his previous legal associations with Romanian officials. In a statement released on the evening of the appeal, USA Gymnastics affirmed its commitment to supporting Chiles in her pursuit of justice, highlighting a strategic decision to have her lead the initial filing while closely coordinating with her legal team. This appeal represents a significant step in a potential protracted legal struggle regarding gymnastics scoring protocols. During the floor exercise finals, Chiles initially received a score of 13.666, ranking her fifth, just behind Barbosu and fellow Romanian Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, before Landi prompted an inquiry into the scoring. Reflecting on the situation, Landi commented, “At this point, we had nothing to lose, so I was like ‘We’re just going to try,’” acknowledging the unexpected and dramatic outcome of their appeal which momentarily elevated Chiles to the podium. Subsequent to the appeal from Romanian officials, CAS was petitioned on multiple fronts, including a request to distribute the bronze medal amongst Chiles, Barbosu, and Maneca-Voinea. Ultimately, despite the controversies surrounding the scoring, the FIG and IOC confirmed Barbosu’s bronze medal victory based on execution scores achieved during her routine.

This ongoing legal dispute stems from the August 5 finals of the gymnastics floor exercise at the 2024 Olympics, where athlete Jordan Chiles was initially awarded a fifth-place finish. This situation escalated when Coach Cecile Landi filed an appeal to contest Chiles’ score, which led to a review process initiated by the CAS. The CAS later ruled that the appeal had been lodged too late, and as a result, a bronze medal was awarded to Ana Barbosu of Romania. Chiles now argues that the CAS proceedings were unjust and that procedural errors occurred, particularly with their handling of evidence and conflict of interest claims against a CAS panel member.

In conclusion, Jordan Chiles’ appeal to the Swiss Supreme Court represents a contentious stage in the ongoing battle for recognition of her performance at the 2024 Olympics. With allegations of procedural mishandlings by CAS and support from USA Gymnastics, Chiles is determined to reclaim her rightful medal. The case underscores the complexities of sports arbitration and the importance of adherence to fair competition principles in gymnastics. The eventual outcome remains to be seen as this legal journey unfolds.

Original Source: www.nbcboston.com