IOC strips Jordan Chiles of floor bronze medal, USOPC appealing

PARIS – Five days after U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles was named the Olympic bronze medalist on floor, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled the medal should instead be awarded to Romania’s Ana Barbosu, and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) have followed suit.

Chiles was the final gymnast up in the women’s floor final, the finale of artistic gymnastics at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Her score initially showed as a 13.666, but Chiles inquired about the score, which didn’t credit her Gogean (aka tour jete full). After inquiry, she was credited with the Gogean, raising her score one-tenth to a 13.766 and giving her the bronze. The moment was bittersweet as Chiles jumped up and down, celebrating her first individual Olympic medal, while Barbosu was devastated, already standing on the floor podium, waving the Romanian flag.

The following days were rife with tension, debate, and attacks geared toward Chiles.

From the get-go, Romania’s most famous gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, pushed back, saying the score change was “playing with athletes’ mental health” on social media. The Romanian Gymnastics Federation (FRG) filed an appeal with CAS on the timing of the inquiry. The FRG also objected to Sabrina Maneca-Voinea’s score, which matched Barbosu’s 13.700 but was ranked lower after the execution tiebreaker. Maneca-Voinea was given a one-tenth neutral deduction, but replay called into question the out of bounds and, subsequently, the FIG line-judging methods at major meets.

The debate came to a head on Saturday, August 10, five days after the competition had concluded, when CAS ruled that Chiles filed her inquiry past the one-minute deadline instituted for the last gymnast in the final (1 minute and 4 seconds, to be exact).

“The Applicants sought a ruling from the CAS Ad hoc Division concluding that the Inquiry was filed beyond the 1-minute deadline specified in art. 8.5 of FIG 2024 Technical Regulations (i.e. 1 minute and 4 seconds) and dismissing the Inquiry as untimely, thereby upholding the initial score of 13.666 and adjusting the final ranking accordingly,” the decision reads.

The decision stated that Chiles’ initial score of 13.666 should be reinstated, giving Barbosu the bronze, putting Maneca-Voinea fourth, and Chiles finishing fifth. The FIG subsequently amended the results, putting Barbosu in third and Chiles fifth.

In a statement received by Gymnastics Now the next morning, August 11, the IOC confirmed that Barbosu will be the sole bronze medalist:

“Following the CAS decision with regard to the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final and the amendment of the ranking by the International Gymnastics Federation, the IOC will reallocate the bronze medal to Ana Barbosu (Romania). We are in touch with the NOC of Romania to discuss the reallocation ceremony and with USOPC regarding the return of the bronze medal.”

The USOPC is appealing the ruling.

“The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) will be appealing the recent decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding Jordan Chiles,” the U.S. National Organizing Committee (NOC) said on Sunday (August 11).

“We firmly believe that Jordan rightfully earned the bronze medal, and there were critical errors in both the initial scoring by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the subsequent CAS appeal process that need to be addressed.

“The initial error occurred in the scoring by FIG, and the second error was during the CAS appeal process, where the USOPC was not given adequate time or notice to effectively challenge the decision. As a result, we were not properly represented or afforded the opportunity to present our case comprehensively.

“Given these circumstances, we are committed to pursuing an appeal to ensure that Jordan Chiles receives the recognition she deserves. We remain dedicated to supporting her as an Olympic champion and will continue to work diligently to resolve this matter swiftly and fairly.”

Additionally, USA Gymnastics shared the same day (August 11) that it had submitted a letter and video evidence to CAS establishing that Cecile Landi verbally inquired 47 seconds after the publishing of the score. They requested the CAS ruling be revised and Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal score be reinstated, but the request to reopen the case was rejected by CAS the next day (August 12).

This is what USAG had to say about that request and new video evidence it was presenting:

“USA Gymnastics on Sunday formally submitted a letter and video evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, conclusively establishing that Head Coach Cecile Landi’s request to file an inquiry was submitted 47 seconds after the publishing of the score, within the 1-minute deadline required by oFIG rule,” the statement reads.

“In the letter, USA Gymnastics requests that the CAS ruling be revised and Chiles’ bronze-medal score of 13.766 reinstated.

“The basis for the CAS ruling on Friday striking down the inquiry was that “The inquiry submitted on behalf of Ms. Jordan Chiles in the Final of the women’s floor exercise was raised after the conclusion of the one-minute deadline provided by article 8.5 of the 2024 FIG Technical Regulations and is determined to be without effect.

“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.

“The video footage provided was not available to USA Gymnastics prior to the tribunal’s decision and thus USAG did not have the opportunity to previously submit it.”

After CAS declined to reopen the case, USA Gymnastics shared another statement:

“USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday (August 12) that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented.

“We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan.”

On Tuesday, August 13, The New York Times shared a report from the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution. In it, three arbitration experts discuss the issues with the head of the CAS panel that ruled in favor of Barbosu, Hamid G. Gharavi, having a working relationship with Romania for nearly a decade. Gharavi is currently serving as legal counsel for the country on a pending renewable energy project and won a case on behalf of Romania as recently as June.

Gharavi disclosed his work with Romania in writing and the detailed CAS report says none of the parties involved in the hearing had objected to his appointment as the panel’s chair. Still, Katherine Simpson, one of the arbitrators who helped author the piece, said Gharavi’s work for Romania was significant enough to warrant an automatic recusal from the panel under the International Bar Association’s guidelines.

On Wednesday, August 14, CAS released the detailed report of the case. You can read it here.

Chiles, USAG, and more react to CAS ruling and subsequent events

Around the same time the FRG shared CAS’ decision, Chiles posted on her Instagram Story that she is “taking this time and removing [herself] from social media for [her] mental health.” She preceded the statement with a black screen of only broken heart emojis.

USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee released a joint statement soon after saying, “We are devastated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling regarding women’s floor exercise. The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring.

“Throughout the appeal process, Jordan has been subject to consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks on social media. No athlete should be subject to such treatment. We condemn the attacks and those who engage, support or instigate them. We commend Jordan for conducting herself with integrity both on and off the competition floor, and we continue to stand by and support her.”

Alicia Sacramone Quinn, the U.S. women’s strategic lead, shared the CAS ruling on her Instagram Story, adding, “Absolutely enraged and disgusted by this ruling. An athlete being penalized for somebody else’s mistake on the competition floor is unacceptable to me. I’m disappointed in the @i.o.c.official for how they’ve handled this.”

Sunisa Lee shared the USAG statement, saying, “All this talk about the athlete, what about the judges?? Completely unacceptable. This is awful and I’m gutted for Jordan. I got your back forever Jo. U have all my flowers and you will ALWAYS be an olympic champion.”

Simone Biles chimed in, sharing a picture of her and Chiles with the caption, “Sending you so much love, Jordan. Keep your chin up, Olympic champ! We love you!”

Jade Carey said, “Don’t punish the athlete for someone else’s mistake. With you all the way, Jo. You are forever an Olympic champion that has so much to be proud of.”

The Netherlands’ Sanne Wevers, the 2016 Olympic beam champion, had one of the more scathing responses after the FIG amended the floor results, sharing the FIG’s Instagram post (that had comments turned off) on her story:

“This situation is heartbreaking for both Jordan and Ana. It’s terrible what these two girls have to endure and the criticism they are facing! And then, FIG has the nerve to disable the option for people to respond… wow, just wow. You should be standing up for the athletes, protecting them, and doing your job. Take responsibility, and understand what it feels like to have the world come down on you. Because this is real. Athletes, please stick together.”

Ana Barbosu also chimed in on Sunday, posting to her Instagram Story:

“Sabrina, Jordan, my thoughts are with you,” Barbosu said. “I know what you are feeling, because I’ve been through the same. But I know you’ll come back stronger. I hope from deep of my heart that at the next Olympics, all three of us will share same podium. This is my true dream! This situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation. We athletes are not to be blamed, and the hate directed to us is painful. I wanted to end this edition of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in the spirit of Olympus, the true value of the world.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.