Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is taking the fight for US Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland to reclaim her bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics. This comes after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last month stripped Chiles of her medal following a challenge by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation.
Gibson Dunn, along with Zurich-based firm Homburger AG, filed an appeal on Monday, challenging the CAS decision. Jordan Chiles is represented by Maurice Suh, a partner at Gibson Dunn and co-chair of the firm’s sports law practice. Suh brings extensive experience in sports arbitration, having represented athletes like Floyd Landis and Justin Gatlin before the CAS.
The controversy stems from a coach’s scoring inquiry during the Olympic Games in Paris, which initially awarded Chiles additional points, securing her the bronze medal in the floor event. The CAS later ruled the inquiry was filed four seconds too late, resulting in Chiles finishing fifth without the added points. Lawyers for Chiles argue that this decision overlooked video evidence showing the inquiry was timely.
The appeal further alleges a conflict of interest, citing that Hamid Gharavi, the president of the arbitration panel that made the ruling, was representing Romania during the case. Gibson Dunn stated they plan to seek additional relief from the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, which could lead to a retrial where Chiles can present her defense and evidence.
Suh emphasized the importance of fair play, stating, “Every part of the Olympics, including the arbitration process, should stand for fair play.” For more details, you can read Bloomberg Law’s full coverage here.