Jordan Chiles’ Olympic journey has taken another dramatic turn, and this time the spotlight is on a Swiss courtroom. In a case that blends elite gymnastics, legal nuance, and athlete advocacy, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court has reopened the door for Chiles to fight for the bronze medal she once celebrated on the floor at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Her legal team is calling the decision a major win. Jordan’s attorney Maurice Suh confirmed the development in a statement to USA Today, saying, “We are delighted that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court has righted a wrong and given Jordan the chance she deserves to reclaim her bronze medal.” He added that the Court acknowledged there is “‘conclusive’ video evidence that Jordan was the rightful winner of the bronze medal.”
Suh also emphasized that the Court recognized how procedural flaws affected Chiles’ ability to defend herself. “We also appreciate the Court’s recognition that ‘extraordinary time pressure’ and notification defects prevented Jordan from presenting this important evidence in August 2024. We appreciate that Jordan will receive a full and fair opportunity to defend her bronze medal.”
What Happened During the Women’s Floor Final at the 2024 Olympics
The controversy dates back to one of the most emotional nights of the Paris Games. One week after Team USA captured gold in the women’s artistic gymnastics team final, Chiles entered the floor exercise final, chasing her first individual Olympic medal.
As the final gymnast to compete, the math was clear. She needed to surpass Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who led with a 14.166, Simone Biles at 14.133, and Romania’s Ana Barbosu at 13.700. After delivering her Beyoncé-inspired routine, Chiles initially received a 13.666, placing her fifth. Then everything changed.
© Getty ImagesHer coaches submitted a scoring inquiry, a formal challenge allowed under International Gymnastics Federation rules. NBC Olympics explained that an inquiry must be submitted verbally and then in writing before the end of the rotation, with a strict one-minute deadline if the gymnast is last to compete. The inquiry focused on Chiles’ tour jeté full, a split leap that had not been credited earlier in the competition.
NBC analyst and Olympian John Roethlisberger explained on the broadcast, “In the team qualification, in the team final, she did not get credit for this skill. In the initial evaluation of the skill, the judges did not give her credit for that. I talked to Cecile and Laurent Landi, her coaches, and they said, ‘We thought she did it much better here in the final. So we thought we have nothing to lose, let’s put in an inquiry.’”
© Corbis via Getty ImagesJudges ultimately agreed. The inquiry was accepted, adding 0.1 to Chiles’ score and moving her to 13.766, good for bronze. Chiles broke down in tears when the updated results appeared.
Fallout, Appeals, and Global Reaction
The revised standings pushed Barbosu off the podium, triggering heartbreak and backlash. Barbosu later posted on Instagram, “Thank you everyone for the support messages! I will take a break from the social media.”
Chiles’ coach, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, also faced accusations online and responded directly. “Jordan’s highest possible SV on floor is a 5.9,” she wrote. “At quals and team finals, she received a 5.8, and we didn’t question it because we saw that not all elements were completed.”
© Getty ImagesShe explained that the inquiry during finals was strategic, not deceptive. “Being placed 5th with nothing to lose, I sent the inquiry so I wouldn’t regret not asking. I didn’t think it would be accepted and at my surprise it was.”
Her message ended with a firm defense of her athlete. “Jordan won this bronze medal and I didn’t steal anything from anyone. I simply did my job and fought for my athlete… She EARNED that bronze medal.”
Despite this, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later ruled that the inquiry was submitted after the one-minute deadline. Chiles’ original score was reinstated, and the FIG amended the results accordingly.
© Getty ImagesUSA Gymnastics responded with visible frustration. “We are devastated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling regarding women’s floor exercise,” the organization said, adding that the inquiry was filed in good faith. They also condemned the online abuse Chiles endured, calling it “utterly baseless and extremely hurtful.”
Support poured in from Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and others. Carey wrote, “Don’t punish the athlete for someone else’s mistake. With you all the way, Jo.” Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, however, celebrated the CAS ruling, writing on Facebook, “Justice has been served.”
© Getty ImagesJordan Chiles Focuses on the Present While the Case Continues
While the legal process unfolds, Chiles is staying grounded. She recently finished third on Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars and is taking a measured approach to her gymnastics future.
“It’s not a no and it’s not a yes,” she told E! News in February 2025 when asked about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “I think my biggest thing is just taking it year by year, month by month and then we’re gonna see.” She also addressed the medal fight carefully. “I just know my attorneys are doing their best to figure everything out. I’m always going to fight and be my best self because that’s just who I am.”
With the Swiss Federal Supreme Court reopening the case, Jordan Chiles’ Olympic story is not finished. It has evolved into a defining moment about fairness, athlete rights, and how results are decided when every tenth of a point matters.
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