“Jordan Chiles must return the bronze medal,” said the International Olympic Committee, which can only be described as a dark day in US Gymnastics. With the image of Chiles and Simone Biles bowing down to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade still fresh in our memory, Romania’s Ana Barbosu tearfully exiting the stage was equally hard-hitting. But now as the 23-year-old US athlete battles with the aftermath of the ruling, new evidence suggests a silver lining.   

According to reports, USAG will be submitting proof showing that the inquiry was submitted in time by coach Cecile Landi. “The time-stamped, video evidence submitted by USA Gymnastics Sunday evening shows Landi first stated her request to file an inquiry at the inquiry table 47 seconds after the score is posted, followed by a second statement 55 seconds after the score was originally posted,” an official press release stated.

The governing body also mentioned that the video has already been submitted to the Court of Arbitration for further review. For those wondering why such an important piece of information was withheld initially: “The video footage provided was not available to USA Gymnastics prior to the tribunal’s decision and thus USAG did not have the opportunity to previously submit it,” the release stated. 

Unfortunately, no other information was made available to the public, including the source of the video, owing to confidentiality clauses, as per USA Today. As for whether the video will reverse CAS’ decision is not yet confirmed.

Earlier, after Jordan Chiles won the bronze medal via an inquiry submitted by coach Cecile Landi, Team Romania looked utterly enraged. Interestingly, while Cecile Landi was found to be four seconds late in submitting her query as per the CAS ruling, the details of how the timing was determined was not disclosed by the organization. 

But what exactly is the timing rule that has been all the rage this past week, and why are some gymnasts given 7-8 minutes, while Chiles got just one?

Bewildering rule cost Jordan Chiles an Olympic medal

According to the rules laid down by the FIG, only inquiries on the Difficulty Score are allowed, with the last participant in the group—in this particular case, Jordan Chiles—given “one minute after the score is shown on the scoreboard”. 

Going by the rules, Cecile Landi called for an inquiry that saw Jordan Chiles’ score overtake that of Ana Barbosu. She was awarded 13.766 to clinch the Olympic bronze, much to the despair of the Romanians. 

Later, the coach also came up with an explanation for the controversy that went down, explaining US’ side of the story. On Instagram, she wrote, “Jordan’s highest possible SV on a possible floor is a 5.9. 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. During floor finals, we thought it was better and being placed fifth with nothing to lose, I sent the inquiry so I wouldn’t regret not asking. I didn’t think that it would be accepted and at my surprise it was.”

But when Landi was found to be four seconds late, Jordan Chiles was given back her initial score of 13.666 to come down to the fourth position. Thus, with the young gymnast heartbroken, the latest video evidence should get her hopes up. According to the technical regulations of FIG, the person receiving the inquiry must have the time noted either in writing or electronically. This might act in favor of Chiles if the claims made by USA Gymnastics about Cecile Landi making no delay are true. 

As for other gymnasts’ inquiry timings in a particular group, it needs to “made verbally immediately after the publication of the score or at the very latest before the score of the following gymnast/athlete or group is shown”.  

With a new twist in the tale, only time will tell if Jordan Chiles gets her lost glory back.