Newly released footage from the Paris Olympics shows that the women’s gymnastics judges neglected to process a request for a review of Simone Biles’ routine, which could have potentially resulted in her winning gold instead of silver. The footage, submitted as part of a court case involving American teammate Jordan Chiles’ attempt to claim bronze, was released in a Swiss court filing. Biles was penalized for stepping outside of the competition mat, and if she had received full credit for her split leap, her score would have put her ahead of the eventual gold medal winner, Rebeca Andrade of Brazil. Biles responded to the footage by saying she is more focused on Chiles’ court case and is satisfied with the outcome.
Biles, who is the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history with 11 Olympic medals, including seven golds, won silver in the floor routine final at the Paris Olympics. The footage released shows that the judges did not process a request for a review of Biles’ routine, which could have potentially led to her winning gold. Biles’ coach and teammate Chiles were involved in a court case over the bronze medal, which was originally awarded to Chiles but later stripped and given to Romania’s Ana Barbosu. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the judging panel had improperly granted an inquiry that resulted in an increased score for Chiles.
Chiles’ lawyers argue that the CAS violated her fundamental right to be heard by refusing to consider video evidence that showed her inquiry was submitted on time. They also claim that CAS President Hamid G. Gharavi had a conflict of interest due to his previous ties to Romania. Chiles gave an emotional interview at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit, where she discussed the incident and mentioned that, to her, it was not about the medal but about issues related to her skin color. The controversy surrounding the scoring decision and the subsequent medal stripping has sparked backlash from gymnastics legends and officials.
If Biles had won gold in the floor routine final, the U.S. would have finished with 41 gold medals at the Paris Games, putting them in sole possession of the gold medal lead. However, the missed review request resulted in a tie with China at 40 golds. The incident also led to Chiles being stripped of the bronze medal she initially won, which has been a subject of ongoing legal battles and controversy. Despite the turmoil surrounding the scoring decisions and the subsequent rulings, both Biles and Chiles have remained focused on their respective cases and have continued to strive for justice in the matter.
The release of the footage from the Paris Olympics has shed light on the controversial scoring decisions that affected both Biles and Chiles during the floor routine final. The footage, submitted as part of a court case involving Chiles’ attempt to reclaim the bronze medal, shows the sequence of events that led to the initial scoring, appeals, and subsequent rulings that affected the final results of the event. The controversy surrounding the scoring decisions has sparked debates and discussions within the gymnastics community and has highlighted the need for transparency and fairness in judging at elite-level competitions. Both Biles and Chiles have remained resilient in their pursuit of justice and fair treatment in the sport.
