Take a break from the downfall of democracy and instead get outraged at the deep injustice of a year-long feud over a bronze medal in women’s gymnastics. This story’s got everything: bravery, racism, the best and the worst of sportsmanship, bad blood that’s been brewing since the Cold War, and, somehow, the Swedish Federal Court. Come for the weird gymnastics scoring rules, stay for the legal analysis of international arbitration rules.
Rory Carroll (August 5, 2024). Gymnastics - Biles bows to Andrade in floor final at Paris games. Reuters.
International Gymnastics Federation, Code of Points
2022-2024: https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_2022-2024%20WAG%20COP.pdf
2025-2028: https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_1.1%20-%20WAG%20COP%202025-2028.pdf
International Gymnastics Federation, Technical Regulations
2024: https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_1.1%20-%20Technical%20Regulations%202024.pdf
2025: https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_1.1%20-%20Technical%20Regulations%202025.pdf
English press release from Swiss Federal Court.
Further reading:
Richard McLaren, The CAS Ad Hoc Division at the Athens Olympic Games, 15 Marq. Sports L. Rev. 175 (2004).
Video of the relevant floor routines, plus a time stamp for when they all attempt the infamous Gogean leap:
Rebeca Andrade: 0:55; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXKM8ThtYOE
Simone Biles: 0:53; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2m2UL5bljw
Jordan Chiles: 1:29; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU0769SvbWE
Ana Bărbosu: 1:06; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik01tvmwV9c
Sabrina Maneca-Voinea: 1:49; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuF-smKa4Vo
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