Nationwide — In a fresh twist to the ongoing Olympic gymnastics controversy, Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal in the women’s floor exercise final is once again under scrutiny. USA Gymnastics announced on Sunday that it has obtained new video evidence suggesting that Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, did indeed file an inquiry regarding her score well within the allotted time frame — 47 seconds after the score was posted, to be precise.
“The time-stamped, video evidence submitted by USA Gymnastics Sunday evening shows Landi first stated her request to file an inquiry at the inquiry table 47 seconds after the score is posted, followed by a second statement 55 seconds after the score was originally posted,” USA Gymnastics revealed in its statement. According to USA Today, the governing body further clarified that this crucial video footage was not available at the time of the original tribunal decision, thereby preventing its inclusion in the initial appeal.
The controversy centers on the women’s floor exercise final held earlier this week at Bercy Arena, where Chiles moved ahead of Romania’s Ana Barbosu following a successful challenge to her original score. Chiles had initially received a score of 13.666, but after her coaches contested a one-tenth deduction on her difficulty score for a move called the tour jeté full—a type of split leap—the judges revised her score to 13.766, securing her a bronze medal. This adjustment left Barbosu, who had scored 13.700, stunned by the sudden turn of events.
However, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation soon appealed to CAS, arguing that the inquiry had been submitted four seconds past the one-minute deadline, the time limit set for such appeals under the International Gymnastics Federation’s technical regulations. CAS sided with the Romanian federation, leading to the controversial decision to reduce Chiles’ score back to 13.666, which effectively handed the bronze medal to Barbosu.
USA Gymnastics’ latest video evidence challenges this timeline, arguing that the inquiry was, in fact, timely and should be honored. The question now is whether CAS will reconsider its decision based on this new evidence. So far, CAS has not responded to requests for comment, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has remained silent on whether this new video could potentially reverse its decision to reallocate the medal.
This controversy adds to a long history of contentious decisions in Olympic gymnastics, particularly involving Black women athletes. Many remember the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Gabby Douglas faced harsh and unfair criticism for her performance and demeanor. Similarly, in 2021, Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from several events to protect her mental health was met with a mix of support and unfounded backlash, highlighting ongoing disparities in how Black women athletes are treated on the world stage.
The current situation with Jordan Chiles underscores the ongoing challenges these athletes face, not only in their sport but also in battling perceptions and judgments that often seem harsher than those faced by their peers. As the world watches how this situation unfolds, the focus remains not just on the technicalities of scoring and inquiries, but also on the broader implications for fairness and equity in sports.
As the gymnastics community waits for a final resolution, Chiles’ situation serves as a reminder of the fine margins and intense scrutiny that athletes face at the highest levels. The outcome of this appeal could have significant repercussions, not just for Chiles, but for the integrity of the sport and the way it handles disputes in the future.
