USA Gymnastics Submits Video Evidence to Reinstate Jordan Chiles’ Bronze Medal.
In a stunning turn of events, USA Gymnastics has submitted compelling video evidence that could alter the fate of Jordan Chiles’ Olympic bronze medal. The controversy centers around the timing of Chiles’ inquiry during the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final at the 2024 Olympics.
According to the newly revealed footage, Head Coach Cecile Landi’s request for an inquiry was submitted just 47 seconds after the score was posted—a critical detail that could reinstate Chiles’ third-place finish. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) rule mandates a one-minute deadline for such inquiries, and USA Gymnastics claims that Landi’s submission adhered to this requirement¹.
Chiles, the 23-year-old gymnast, initially earned a score of 13.666, placing her fifth in the floor exercise final. However, after Landi contested the judges’ assessment of Chiles’ routine, her score was adjusted to 13.766, catapulting her to third place ahead of Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who both scored 13.700¹.
The drama escalated when Romania’s Olympic Committee protested to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), alleging that Landi’s inquiry was submitted late. They claimed that Landi missed the deadline by a mere four seconds. The IOC subsequently voided Chiles’ bronze medal, leaving her devastated and the gymnastics world in shock¹.
But now, with the emergence of the video evidence, USA Gymnastics is fighting back. The time-stamped footage shows Landi making her inquiry at the official inquiry table within the crucial 47-second window after the score was posted. A second statement followed 55 seconds after the initial posting, further reinforcing the validity of the submission¹.
In response to the CAS ruling that initially struck down the inquiry, USA Gymnastics is appealing for a revision. Their formal letter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport requests that Chiles’ bronze-medal score be reinstated, emphasizing the timely nature of Landi’s inquiry¹.
The gymnastics community now awaits the CAS’s decision. Will Jordan Chiles reclaim her rightful place on the podium? Or will the controversy persist, casting a shadow over her remarkable performance? Only time—and perhaps more video evidence—will tell¹.
Stay tuned for updates as this gripping saga unfolds. In the world of gymnastics, where precision and timing matter, the battle for bronze has become a nail-biting spectacle, leaving fans and athletes alike on the edge of their seats¹.🥉
