Key Takeaways:
– American gymnast Jordan Chiles is seeking to overturn a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision that stripped her of an Olympic bronze medal.
– The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Gymnastics are supporting Chiles’ appeal.
– Chiles’ coach Cecile Landi submitted an on-floor appeal during the event finals, but CAS rejected it for being late.
– Jordan Chiles contests the hearing process, insisting her “right to be heard” was violated.
– The appeal could ignite a lengthy legal battle over gymnastics scores.
Uphill Battle to the Swiss Supreme Court
Jordan Chiles, an American gymnast, is pleading to the Swiss Supreme Court, hoping to overturn a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that stripped her of a bronze medal in floor exercise at the 2024 Olympics. Chiles submitted her appeal on Monday, backed by the full force of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Gymnastics.
Dispute Over Timing
The controversial decision came from the CAS, following an inquiry from Romanian officials. The court decided that Cecile Landi, Chiles’ coach who contested the scoring during the event finals on August 5, submitted her appeal 4 seconds late of the permissible 1-minute window for objections. CAS rejected Landi’s on-floor appeal, which shot Chiles up from fifth to third place.
Reinstatement of the Original Rankings
On the recommendation of the CAS, the original standings should be reinstated. The International Gymnastics Federation adhered to this, and the International Olympic Committee ended up awarding the bronze to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu on August 16.
Violation of the Right to be Heard?
In her appeal, Chiles alleges that the CAS hearing violated her “right to be heard.” She also states that the court declined to consider video proof indicating that Landi’s protest was submitted within the 1-minute time frame. Chiles’ appeal further adds that Hamid G. Gharavi, the CAS panel’s president, may have a conflict of interest due to former legal connections with Romania.
In Pursuit Of Justice
Standings, USA Gymnastics expressed its full support to Chiles in a statement released late Monday stating that it made a “collective, strategic decision to have Jordan lead the initial filing.” It also assured that it would coordinate with Chiles and her legal team and would file supplementary documents with the court in Chiles’ pursuit of justice.
The Long Road to Justice
This appeal could potentially spur a prolonged legal battle over gymnastic scores that might last months or even years. Maurice M. Suh, who is representing Chiles, vehemently expressed in Monday’s statement that the gymnast’s appeal poses an easy legal question for the international community. Whether an Olympic athlete who has acted justly should lose her medal due to fundamental unfairness in an ad-hoc arbitration process? He stated that the response should be negative, emphasizing that every component of the Olympics, including the arbitration process, should advocate for fair play.
Unfolding of the Event
During the floor exercise finals, Chiles was the last of eight women to perform. She initially received a score of 13.666, putting her fifth, directly behind Barbosu and another Romanian, Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. Landi then called for a review of Chiles’ score.
Bronze Medal Controversy
In response to Landi’s challenge, judges awarded the appeal, pushing Chiles past Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea onto the podium. However, Romanian officials appealed to CAS. They also suggested that a bronze medal be awarded to Chiles, Barbosu, and Maneca-Voinea. The FIG and IOC subsequently awarded the bronze to Barbosu, who surpassed her teammate in a tiebreaker due to a higher execution score during her routine. This arduous fight for fairness proves that the Olympic journey doesn’t always end at the awarding of medals.