USA Gymnastics Submits “Video Evidence” Proving Jordan Childs Inquiry Was Made on Time
Jordan Childs may have her bronze medal “reinstated” after new evidence from USA Gymnastics.
“USA Gymnastics formally submitted a letter and video evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Sunday, conclusively establishing that head coach Cecile Landy's request for an inquiry was submitted 47 seconds after the scores were announced, within the one-minute deadline set by FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) rules The sports organizations said in a statement shared with several media outlets on Sunday.
“According to time-stamped video evidence submitted by USA Gymnastics on Sunday evening, Randy first requested to submit his inquiry at the inquiry table 47 seconds after the scores were posted, and then, 55 seconds after the scores were first posted, he submitted a second statement.
This submission of video evidence from USAG followed a drama-filled few days for Childs, who was stripped of her bronze medal in the women's floor final by an Olympic Court ruling over the weekend.
In this event, Childs was initially in fifth place with 13.666 points, with Romanian gymnast Ana Barbos in third. However, coach Cecil Landi felt that a specific point deduction for Childs' overall score was not appropriate and inquired about Childs' score.
The inquiry was accepted, and Childs' score was raised to 13.766, earning him third place and the bronze medal.
However, Barbosz, who initially placed fourth, and her teammate Sabrina Manexa-Voinea argued that the inquiry was invalid because it was requested beyond the one-minute time limit, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) eventually ruled in their favor. As a result, Childs' bronze medal was reallocated to Barbos.
“The reference filed on behalf of Ms. Jordan Childs in the women's floor exercise final is deemed invalid because it was filed after the end of the one-minute deadline set by Article 8.5 of the 2024 FIG Technical Rules,” was the basis for CAS's ruling on Friday to strike the reference.
“The video footage provided was not available to USA Gymnastics prior to the Court's decision, so the USAG had no opportunity to submit it previously.
The organization requested that CAS “modify the ruling and reinstate Childs' bronze medal score of 13.766.”
CAS must now consider the new evidence and make a decision as to whether Childs or Barboche will retain the bronze medal.
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