Newly released footage from the Paris Olympics shows that the women’s gymnastics judges neglected to process a request from U.S. coaches for a review of Simone Biles’ routine. If the request had been considered and Biles’ score changed, she likely would have taken the gold instead of settling for silver. The video was released as part of a court case involving American teammate Jordan Chiles’ attempt to claim bronze. Biles was penalized for stepping outside of the competition mat, which cost her crucial points in the final scoring.
Despite the controversial scoring decision, Biles expressed that she is happy with the outcome and is more focused on supporting Chiles’ case for the bronze medal. Biles has won more Olympic medals than any gymnast in U.S. history, with 11 medals, including seven golds. The video footage was provided to Chiles by the director of Biles’ documentary project, which was filming her during the Olympic competition. The footage has now been released to help Chiles in her case for the bronze medal, which was initially awarded to Romania’s Ana Barbosu.
Chiles’ attorney has submitted footage showing visual evidence in favor of Chiles, claiming that the request for a review of her score was not submitted past the deadline. The controversial scoring decision led to backlash from gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci and Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who threatened to boycott the Olympics closing ceremony. The Court of Arbitration for Sport later ruled that the judging panel improperly granted an inquiry that increased Chiles’ score, resulting in her bronze medal being stripped.
Chiles’ lawyers have argued that the CAS violated her fundamental right to be heard by refusing to consider video evidence that showed her inquiry was submitted on time, contradicting the findings in the CAS decision. They also claimed that the CAS President had a conflict of interest due to his previous involvement with the Romanian gymnastics team. Chiles gave her first sit-down interview about the incident at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit 2024, where she emotionally discussed the impact of the situation, emphasizing that it was not just about the medal but also about issues related to race and representation.
The release of the footage has shed light on the controversy surrounding the scoring decisions at the Paris Olympics and the implications it had for Biles and Chiles. Despite the initial ruling and subsequent legal proceedings, Chiles has not returned the bronze medal that was awarded to her. The ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities and challenges faced by athletes in navigating issues of fairness and justice within the competitive sports world. The fallout from the scoring controversies at the Paris Olympics serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the judging process to uphold the integrity of Olympic competition.
