Jordan Chiles controversy, explained: Timeline of USA gymnast's battle with IOC over Olympic bronze medal

David Suggs

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Jordan Chiles controversy, explained: Timeline of USA gymnast's battle with IOC over Olympic bronze medal image

The 2024 Olympics offered no shortage of excitement (and controversies), but few have captivated the global audience as much as the bronze medal dispute in women's gymnastics.

U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles appeared to have taken home the prize in the floor exercise final, benefitting from a successful last-second score inquiry from her coach Cecile Landi. With the updated point total, the 23-year-old surged past Romania's Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea and into podium position.

Chiles joined silver medalist Simone Biles of Team USA and gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil on the podium, prompting one of the most memorable moments of this year's competition.

Yet Chiles' grip on her prized possession is tenuous, though not because of any fault of her own. Rather, the scoring of the competition came under question from the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, which appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Romania's appeal set the stage for what has turned into one of the most compelling and complicated clashes in recent Olympic memory. The situation also has left the status of Chiles' medal in limbo.

Here's a look at the bronze medal controversy that has prompted numerous sporting luminaries, including Biles, LeBron James and Nadia Comaneci, to speak out.

MORE: Why Simone Biles wore a boot at 2024 Olympics closing ceremony

Jordan Chiles bronze medal controversy timeline

Aug. 5

Chiles already had one medal to her name at the 2024 Paris Games when she trotted onto the mat for the floor final on Aug. 5. She was a part of the U.S.'s gold-medal winning side in the team competition, strutting her stuff alongside fellow American standouts Biles, Jade Carey, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera.

With her qualifying score, the 2023 NCAA floor champion also received the opportunity to compete for an individual prize in the floor exercise.

Chiles put forth a solid display on the apparatus, twirling her way to an initial score of 13.666. That represented a far better showing for Chiles than her Olympic debut in Tokyo, where she finished 40th in the all-around.

But the score wasn't quite good enough for the podium. Chiles stood in fifth place, just short of the matching 13.700 scores of Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea. Barbosu held the tiebreaker over her teammate due to her higher execution score.

Chiles was the final of the eight competitors to take the floor. Once her score flashed onto the screen, it set off a flurry of emotions from Barbosu, who was poised to take home Romania's first gymnastics medal since 2012.

Landi, though, had other ideas, submitting an inquiry into the judges' scoring on Chiles' routine. Chiles' coach called for the judges to credit her pupil with an additional 0.1 points for one of the many techniques she employed during her choreography.

Just minutes earlier, Maneca-Voinea's coaches had attempted the same thing, attempting to nix 0.1-point deduction for allegedly touching out of bounds with her heel. Her appeal was denied, though viral replays showed that she may in fact have stayed in bounds.

MORE: LeBron James, Suni Lee react to Olympic gymnastics controversy

“At this point, we had nothing to lose, so I was like ‘We’re just going to try,’” Landi said after the awards ceremony. “I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen, but when I heard her scream, I turned around and was like ‘What?’”

After a brief bit of deliberation, Chiles was awarded the additional 0.1 points. Her new score read 13.766, good enough for third — and immortality as an Olympic bronze medalist.

Chiles raced away in celebration at the site of her altered score.

"This is just a dream come true," Chiles said. "It was a redemption tour, I just wanted to come out and do the best I could. I have no words.

"... I honestly didn't expect this whatsoever. I'm just very proud of myself."

Barbosu, meanwhile, was left stunned. She had cloaked herself in the Romanian flag just seconds before the inquiry had been approved, but she was left without a spot on the podium. She dissolved into tears at the sight of Chiles' newly-minted score.

Aug. 6

Romania's sports governing bodies didn't take too kindly to Chiles' scoring change. Mihai Covaliu, president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, sent a letter of protest to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) shortly after the event's conclusion.

In his address, Covaliu insists that FIG president Morinari Watanabe "order the re-analysis by the decision-making factors of the case of the Romanian athlete Sabrina Maneca-Voinea regarding the score given to the execution of the exercise in the floor final."

Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu also commented on the situation, saying he would not be attending the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics in protest.

"I have decided not to attend the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics after the scandalous situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an dishonorable manner. To withdraw a medal earned through honest effort based on a protest that neither the coaches nor top technicians understand is totally unacceptable,” Ciolacu said on Facebook, as translated by Romania Insider.

MORE:  Why Romania protested floor exercise result in Olympic gymnastics

Aug. 10

The Romanian team wasted little time filing a petition to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the scoring of the floor exercise final.

On Aug. 10, CAS released the results of its investigation into the scoring. The Switzerland-based entity found that Landi's appeal came outside of the one-minute window permitted by FIG, missing the mark by four seconds.

CAS ruled that the original scores of Monday's final — which saw Chiles place fifth behind Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea — should be restored. Maneca-Voinea's appeal, which argued that her heel did not stray out of bounds, was rejected.

Shortly after the announcement of CAS's decision, FIG officially reinstated Monday's official scoring. While the status of the medals remained in the hands of the Olympic organizers, Chiles was back in fifth place in the scoring, in possession of a bronze medal that CAS and FIG were saying she did not deserve.

The 23-year old posted on her Instagram story that she would be taking a mental health break from social media as a result of the ongoing controversy connected to her award.

"I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health thank you," Chiles wrote.

Aug. 11

One day after CAS and FIG ruled in the Romanian team's favor, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Chiles would be asked to return her bronze medal so it could be reallocated to Barbosu.

Before the IOC's decision, the Romanian team had asked for three bronze medals to be issued: one for Chiles, one for Barbosu and one for Maneca-Voinea.

Ciolacu called the ruling "justice," adding that "in the end, the truth prevailed." Barbosu, meanwhile, expressed sympathy for Chiles and Maneca-Voinea.

“I know very well that it hurts, because I have been through the same states," Barbosu said, per Romania's Golazo.ro. "But I know you and I’m sure you’ll have the strength to come back even stronger. I sincerely hope that at the next Olympic Games we will be on the same podium. This is my dream.”

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The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced its intent to appeal the CAS ruling soon afterward, saying in its statement: "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."

Breaking: USOPC to appeal CAS ruling on Jordan Chiles. pic.twitter.com/CQANoZdNd1

— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) August 11, 2024

Later on Aug. 11, USA Gymnastics released a statement indicating that it had obtained and submitted conclusive video evidence that Landi had submitted her appeal to judges within the one-minute limit imposed by FIG.

"USA Gymnastics on Sunday formally submitted a letter and video evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," USA Gymnastics' statement read, "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 FIG rule."

It's unclear what video USA Gymnastics submitted to CAS. Some are speculating that this clip, seemingly confirming USA Gymnastics' claim, could have been used as the organization attempts to win back bronze for Chiles.

Aug. 12

On Aug. 12, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation announced that CAS rejected USA Gymnastics' appeal to reopen Chiles' case.

"[CAS] stressed that during the proceedings 'it has been concluded conclusively established through the official records provided by the International Gymnastics Federation, unchallenged by any side during the proceedings' that this appeal filed by the Mrs. Landi was passed late after the 1 minute limit," the Romanian Gymnastics Federation's statement read.

USA Gymnastics confirmed on Aug. 12 that the CAS won't reconsider its decision to ask for Chiles to return the bronze medal. 

"USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented," USA Gymnastics said in a statement. "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."

In light of the CAS announcement, famed American rap star — and noted lover of all things women sports — Flavor Flav unveiled a glistening bronze necklace of sorts for Chiles. It features a clock on its surface, as is expected out of a Flavor Flav piece.

Flavor Flav's gift was crafted by the fine artisans at Rock N' Stones, the Public Enemy icon confirmed.

Aug. 15

Chiles released her first public statement since news of the CAS's and FIG's decisions were made public on Aug. 15.

In the letter, posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, Chiles detailed her  experiences during the scandal, as well as her hopes to continue to "make every effort to ensure that justice is done." 

"I believe that at the end of this journey, the people in control will do the right thing," Chiles wrote.

Sept. 16

Nearly a month after the last update in the saga, Chiles has officially submitted an appeal to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court about the CAS decision regarding her bronze medal. 

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee filed a letter in support of Chiles' appeal. The gymnast will also file an additional petition seeking "additional and alternative relief" from the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, according to the press release.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.