Two Years After Being Stripped of Her 2024 Olympic Title, Chiles May Regain Her Bronze Medal as Court Approves Appeal
Two years after being stripped of her Olympic bronze medal, Jordan Chiles may be on the verge of reclaiming the title she earned on the world’s biggest stage.
This week, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court approved Chiles’ appeal in the long-running dispute over her bronze medal from the women’s floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reopening a case that many in the gymnastics world say should never have been closed. The ruling clears the way for the matter to be reconsidered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which oversees Olympic-related disputes and is headquartered in Switzerland.
Chiles originally won bronze during the Paris Games, finishing behind Rebeca Andrade, who took gold, and Simone Biles, who earned silver. The moment marked a historic first: an all-Black Olympic podium in women’s gymnastics. That celebration, however, was short-lived.
Team Romania filed an appeal shortly after the event, arguing that Chiles’ coach failed to submit a score inquiry within the one-minute window required by the sport’s rules. The appeal was ultimately upheld, and the bronze medal was reassigned to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu, forcing Chiles to return her medal despite having already stood on the podium.
“I made history,” Chiles said later, reflecting on the decision. “I followed the rules. My coach followed the rules. We did everything that was totally, completely right.”
Now, newly surfaced evidence appears to support that claim. According to court filings, an audiovisual recording from the competition shows Chiles’ coach submitting the inquiry just 47 seconds after the score was posted—well within the one-minute deadline. That footage was not considered during the initial arbitration, a failure the Swiss court described as significant enough to warrant reopening the case.
In its decision, the court said that under the “highly exceptional circumstances” of the dispute, the video evidence could reasonably lead to a modification of the previous ruling in Chiles’ favor.
Support for Chiles has been swift and unequivocal. USA Gymnastics praised the court for recognizing flaws in the original process, noting that the evidence clearly shows the inquiry was filed on time under Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique rules. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee also reaffirmed its backing, commending Chiles for her professionalism and resilience throughout the ordeal.
Chiles’ attorney, Maurice Suh, called the video proof “conclusive,” adding that extreme time pressure and notification issues previously prevented the evidence from being properly presented. He said the court’s decision finally gives Chiles the fair opportunity she was denied in 2024.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed it will now conduct a fresh review of the case, though a hearing date has not yet been announced. Until then, the status of the bronze medal remains unresolved. What is clear, however, is that Jordan Chiles’ fight is far from over—and this time, the record may finally speak for itself.
