Jordan Chiles, who was part of the gold medal-winning US women’s gymnastics team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has taken her battle for a bronze medal in the floor exercise to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland.
Chiles, who had her medal stripped in a highly controversial fashion, said she is fighting for “justice” and accused the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) of denying her “right to be heard.”
The American gymnast won the bronze after a successful appeal by her coach. However, the medal was later stripped due to the appeal allegedly being lodged four seconds past the one-minute deadline.
Romania’s Ana Bărbosu, who initially came in third in the competition, was dropped to fifth. Once the appeal was overruled, the bronze was again awarded to Bărbosu.
Chiles’ legal filing alleges there is video evidence the appeal was, in fact, filed within the permitted time frame and accuses the CAS of being motivated by a corrupt official.
“Chiles asks the Supreme Court to find that the CAS decision was procedurally deficient for two reasons,” her lawyers said in a statement, according to Olympics.com.
“First, CAS violated Chiles’ fundamental ‘right to be heard’ by refusing to consider the video evidence that showed her inquiry was submitted on time – in direct contradiction to the findings in CAS’ decision.”
“Second, the entire CAS proceeding was unfair because Chiles was not properly informed that Hamid G. Gharavi, the President of the CAS panel that revoked Chiles’s bronze medal and awarded it instead to a Romanian gymnast, had a serious conflict of interest: Mr. Gharavi has acted as counsel for Romania for almost a decade and was actively representing Romania at the time of the CAS arbitration.”
Jordan Chiles May Have The Truth On Her Side
Team USA has insisted all along they have video evidence showing their appeal was filed in time.
But the CAS refused to look into the matter. Instead, they ruled that their decision was “final”, forcing Jordan Chiles‘ hand in pursuing legal recourse.
They might just regret having to go down this route. Because that video evidence seems to be available, having come from an unlikely source. A very fortunate twist in this case for Chiles.
If a new report is correct, the court will have no choice but to award the bronze medal to Chiles.
USA Today reports that multiple cameras set up for the filming of a Simone Biles documentary (Biles is Chiles’ teammate) show the appeal by Team USA coaches was submitted in time. Repeatedly.
The outlet defines the video as a “smoking gun” proving Chiles’ case.
“Inquiry for Jordan!” Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, is heard saying on the documentary footage precisely 49 seconds after Chiles’ score in the floor exercise final was announced. She also repeats “inquiry for Jordan” and “for Jordan” prior to the 60-second deadline.
How about that? When Biles isn’t winning her own medals she’s inadvertently providing an assist on others.
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Let Her Keep The Bronze
Jordan Chiles’ appeal in the Swiss Federal Tribunal is seeking to overturn the CAS verdict. It seems like a slam dunk if the video evidence is accurate.
But then, you never know with these corrupt Olympic officials.
While Jordan’s behavior has been suspect since the controversy, she’s right to demand the ruling be overturned.
Chiles broke down in tears in recent days over the controversy.
“To me, everything that has gone on is not about the medal, it’s about, you know, my skin color,” she claimed.
We’re glad the court filing doesn’t go down that road and instead argues from a reasonable legal aspect. Now let her keep that bronze.
