The legal battle over the 2024 Paris Olympics floor exercise bronze medal has taken a significant turn as Switzerland’s highest court intervened on behalf of American gymnast Jordan Chiles. On Jan. 29 the Swiss Federal Tribunal granted part of an appeal filed by Chiles, effectively sending the case back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an independent international organization with the power to adjudicate disputes involving some competitions. That organization will now consider new evidence, including a recently surfaced video that could help the American gymnast’s case

The dispute centers on a technicality involving a few seconds of footage from the final day of gymnastics competition in Paris. Chiles originally secured the bronze medal after her coach, Cecile Landi, submitted an inquiry regarding her difficulty score. The inquiry was accepted, moving Chiles from fifth place to third. However, the Romanian team later appealed to CAS, arguing that the U.S. inquiry was submitted four seconds past the one-minute deadline. CAS agreed, resulting in the medal being stripped from Chiles and awarded to Ana Maria Barbosu of Romania.

In its recent ruling, the Swiss Federal Tribunal cited "highly exceptional circumstances," noting that audio-visual recordings from the event appear to show the inquiry was actually made within the required timeframe. The court stated there is a strong likelihood this evidence could lead to a modification of the original award in favor of Chiles. While the tribunal supported the review of the video, it  Chiles’ separate claim regarding the potential partiality of the head of the arbitration panel.

Maurice M. Suh, the attorney representing Chiles, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, noting that it "righted a wrong" by allowing the evidence to be heard. USA Gymnastics also issued a statement praising the court for acknowledging the procedural flaws that occurred during the initial appeal in Paris.

The 24-year-old gymnast, who is currently competing for UCLA and appearing on "Dancing With the Stars," has faced intense scrutiny and online harassment throughout the ordeal. While a final verdict from CAS could take significant time to process, the ruling provides a legal pathway for Chiles to officially reclaim her place on the podium alongside Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade.