New Video Confirms Jordan Chiles Inquiry Submitted on Time, Says USA Gymnastics

PARIS — A new twist has emerged in the Olympic gymnastics saga involving Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal. USA Gymnastics announced on Sunday that it has acquired new video evidence indicating that coach Cecile Landi submitted an inquiry regarding Chiles’ floor exercise score within the designated one-minute timeframe. Specifically, Landi submitted the inquiry just 47 seconds after the score was announced.

In an official statement, USA Gymnastics revealed that this video evidence, along with a formal letter, has been submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This submission is part of a pushing effort to reinstate Chiles’ score of 13.766, allowing her to retain the bronze medal from the women’s floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

USA Gymnastics stated that the video clearly shows Landi making her initial inquiry at the inquiry table 47 seconds after the score was posted, followed by a second inquiry 55 seconds later. They expressed that this critical video footage was not accessible to USA Gymnastics prior to the tribunal’s decision, which prevented them from submitting it earlier.

Due to CAS’s confidentiality regulations regarding appeals, a spokesperson for USA Gymnastics indicated that they were unable to share more information about the video, including its origin. As of now, a representative from CAS has not responded to requests for further comments. Similarly, the International Olympic Committee has not yet provided information on whether this new evidence will influence their prior decision concerning the medal.

This recent development adds yet another layer to the tumultuous events surrounding the women’s floor exercise final that took place at Bercy Arena. Chiles secured her bronze medal after appealing her score in a dramatic finish that had her surpassing Romania’s Ana Barbosu. Initially, Chiles’ score was recorded at 13.666, but following the submission of an inquiry contesting a one-tenth deduction on her difficulty score due to her execution of a tour jete full, the judges increased her score to 13.766.

This adjustment not only granted Chiles her Olympic bronze but also left Barbosu, who posted a score of 13.700, startled by the sudden change in standings. However, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation soon contested this outcome, claiming that the inquiry was submitted four seconds beyond the allotted one-minute limit. CAS supported this claim and subsequently restored Chiles’ score back to 13.666, which resulted in the IOC announcing the stripping of Chiles’ bronze medal in favor of Barbosu.

The core of this controversy fundamentally revolves around the timeline—specifically, a mere 17-second difference that could ultimately determine whether Chiles will retain her first individual Olympic medal. The CAS ruling did not detail how the Romanian Gymnastics Federation concluded that the inquiry had indeed been late, and the federation has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the matter.

Under the competition regulations set by the International Gymnastics Federation, a gymnast’s coach can file an inquiry about a score until the subsequent gymnast begins their routine. However, for the last athlete in a session, as was the case for Chiles in the floor final, the coach is restricted to one minute post-score announcement. The technical regulations state that the official receiving the inquiry must log the time it is received, which initiates the procedural process for the inquiry.

The outcome of this appeal could have significant implications for all parties involved as they navigate the rules and ensure fair competition in the upcoming games. With emotions running high and the stakes higher still, the gymnastics community watches intently as this situation unfolds.

Source: Various News Outlets