The CAS ruling on the Jordan Chiles case has turned into a nightmare for the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). It all began when the Romanian team contested Chiles’ score of 13.766 in the floor finals at the Paris Olympics. In the courtroom drama that followed, FIG argued that Cecile Landi, tasked with filing the inquiry for Team USA, was four seconds late. This seemingly minor lapse led to the inquiry being dismissed, reinstating Chiles’ original score of 13.666.

For the young U.S. gymnast, this ruling was a devastating blow. Chiles was forced to relinquish her hard-earned bronze medal to Romania’s Ana Barbosu, who finished with a score of 13.700. But the plot thickened when CAS found no concrete proof that Team USA had indeed missed the one-minute window for submitting their inquiry. Despite OMEGA recording the timing, FIG couldn’t identify who was supposed to have logged the inquiry, leaving a gaping hole in their case. With human error becoming increasingly evident, FIG President Morinari Watanabe was compelled to step in, adding another layer of intrigue to an already convoluted situation.

Morinari Watanabe’s cryptic response on FIG’s faux pas

During the hearing, Ms. Donatella Sacchi, a representative of the FIG, stated that she did not verify whether Cecile Landi was late or on time in submitting the request. Ms. Sacchi further added a concerning detail stating that the inquiry received on her tablet “offered no indication that it had been received late.” To further elevate the growing tensions, USAG has come up with a fresh set of video evidence where they have a timestamp of the exact moment Cecile Landi asked for the inquiry. And well, it allegedly showed 47 seconds on the clock.  

Pinned by the swarm of controversies, the FIG’s President, Watanabe issued a statement that only intensified the confusion further. Putting stress on the fact that such an unfortunate incident must never happen again, Morinari Watanabe then went on to stress on how important it is to implement proper technology to determine the crucial moments in a high-profile game like the Olympics. Morinari also mentioned that previously, the FIG was always the ‘pioneer’ in introducing the latest state-of-the-art technologies in the sport. 

But then, the FIG President went on to state some cryptic lines that most of the gymnastics community could not fathom. He said, “But now we are no longer a pioneer. This is because we are not able to break our own prejudices because of our traditions. We need change. We need challenges. And we need the courage to move forward.” And expressing the frustration over the confusing statement, the fans took to social media to make their voices heard. 

Fans call out FIG President for ‘vague’ statements on Jordan Chiles medal mishap

When Morinari Watanabe’s recent statement was summarized in a Reddit post, the gymnastics community was quick to react, with fans expressing their outrage over the FIG President’s seemingly evasive stance. The controversy surrounding Jordan Chiles’ score, initially described as an unfortunate error or “tragedy” in the post, has spiraled into what many are calling a full-blown fiasco. FIG’s inability to provide clear evidence has only fueled the fire, and one frustrated commenter didn’t hold back, quipping, “Tragedy? More like fiasco.” The contradictory statements from officials, coupled with Watanabe’s muddled remarks, have left everyone scratching their heads, wondering what really went wrong.

Another Reddit user offered a more cynical perspective, suggesting that Watanabe’s vague comments are part of a calculated strategy to keep his reputation intact as he eyes a potential bid for IOC presidency. They speculated, “Watanabe is running for IOC president. My cynical side says this is intentionally vague and highlights his technology platform to preserve his chances at securing the role.” The commenter implied that by focusing on technological shortcomings rather than addressing human error directly, Watanabe might be trying to sidestep accountability and safeguard his political aspirations.

The backlash didn’t stop there. Another fan took a direct swipe at FIG for dodging responsibility in the Jordan Chiles medal controversy by blaming technological issues instead of acknowledging their own procedural failures. They wrote, “They are trying to shift blame to technology instead of truly acknowledging what happened and offering honest sincere apologies. I have yet to see anyone really take accountability and responsibility for what happened.” This commenter highlighted the emotional toll that FIG’s mishandling has taken on athletes like Chiles, Ana Barbosu, and Sabrina Voinea, adding, “They don’t understand the actual emotional/psychological harm they have caused for Jordan, Ana, and Sabrina due to their ineptitude, and lack of procedures to begin with.” The gymnastics community’s frustration is palpable, especially in light of Watanabe’s failure to issue a sincere apology.

FIG President Morinari Watanabe’s statement reflects disappointment that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overruled FIG’s original decision regarding Jordan Chiles’ score. Another dissatisfied netizen commented, “It’s a bizarre wording for sure. My interpretation is that the tragedy is that the scores and medals determined by the FIG were overwritten by the CAS. And that the technology issue is the lack of appropriate timer software, which would have alerted them if an inquiry was too late.” This comment suggests that Watanabe’s reference to technology might be a veiled criticism of FIG’s outdated methods, particularly the absence of precise timer software that could have avoided this entire debacle.

The skepticism continues as another user pointed out the lack of concrete evidence regarding the inquiry’s timing. They remarked, “But we really haven’t seen the evidence yet as to whether it truly was submitted 4 seconds too late. I’d like to think that USGA is not outright lying about having video evidence.” This statement reflects the growing doubt within the gymnastics community about FIG’s claims and the authenticity of the evidence presented.

With Team USA escalating the matter to a Swiss tribunal, the medal controversy is far from over. As this saga unfolds, the gymnastics world watches closely, anticipating more twists and turns in what has already been a dramatic chapter in the sport’s history. What will come next? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the gymnastics community won’t rest until they have answers.