Hold onto your leotards, folks! The floor of the 2024 Paris Olympics is sizzling with drama, and it’s not just because of those spectacular routines. Meet Sabrina Maneca-Voinea – the tenacious Romanian gymnast giving new meaning to the phrase ‘never give up’ as she battles for a bronze medal. And let’s just say, if Hollywood ever needs a new thriller, they ought to follow this nail-biter.

Here’s the scoop: Sabrina and the Romanian Gymnastics Federation just launched an appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) tossed out their previous plea. Why, you ask? Well, they believe Voinea was unfairly docked 0.10 points for allegedly going out of bounds during the floor final. And no – she vehemently denies it, armed with replay evidence to prove her point.

Now before you scoff, consider this – this appeal is no ordinary judiciary adventure. It’s packed with twists and turns including an element of international controversy, starring none other than Jordan Chiles, the US gymnast who initially got the bronze medal, only to have it taken away on the final day. The Olympian whirlpool goes deeper as USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee dive in, planning their own appeal with video receipts of their own.!

Flashback to August 5th – Chiles ended up fifth in the floor final, her score sitting at a cozy 13.666. Two Romanians – Ana Barbosu and Voinea outscored her with a respectable 13.7 each. But oh, the devil is in the details – Barbosu edged out Voinea thanks to a minuscule better execution score. Enter Cecile Landi, Chiles’ coach and U.S. head coach, wielding an appeal over a missed tour jete. If you haven’t heard, a tour jete is a leap worth a hefty 0.10 points.

Next came the plot twist of all plot twists: the review panel agreed, and Chiles’ score eked up just enough to bump her into third place, sashaying past the Romanians. Outraged, Romania shot back with an appeal to CAS, claiming Landi’s appeal was a few seconds too tardy. CAS upheld it, saying that Chiles’ appeal did indeed arrive fashionably late by a grand total of four seconds. After which, the International Gymnastics Federation had to redo the rankings accordingly.

With popcorn-worthy timing, just a day later, the IOC waved its wand, redistributing medals and crowning Barbosu with the bronze. But wait! USA Gymnastics came swinging with time-stamped videos showing Landi did indeed submit the appeal on the clock – however, the IOC firmly shut the lid on this Pandora’s box, handing Barbosu her shiny new medal on August 9.

Here’s the kicker – Voinea and her camp are adamant that it didn’t have to be this way grand scale of confusion if Voinea hadn’t been wrongfully dinged for stepping out. Without that predatory 0.10 hit, her score would spike to 13.8, acing both Chiles and Barbosu. Voinea’s appeal to CAS argued precisely this, but alas, CAS delivered a chilly rejection.

The CAS panel’s reasoning? Field-of-play decisions aren’t up for debate, whether made by referees or gymnasts on pommel horses. They held that reviewing the out-of-bounds call after the fact would undermine the sanctity of referees’ judgment – a sacrosanct territory, it seems.

Have we reached the end of this electrifying saga? Hardly. With the Swiss Federal Tribunal now in the mix, all eyes are on what comes next. Remember, dear reader – this kerfuffle is more than just about scoring decimal points; it’s about the vigorous spirit of gymnastics, a whirlwind of raw emotions, and yes – the sheer stubbornness to thrive against the odds.

Now, I’m not saying the Swiss Tribunal needs to broadcast live updates, but hey, it sure would be gripping. To all the aficionados watching from their sofas – stay glued to this page. The Olympic saga of sweat, tears, and pure drama has just begun.