WASHINGTON — Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, stated on Monday that her organization will vigorously advocate for gymnast Jordan Chiles to keep her bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics, highlighting a simple truth: she earned it.

“We feel it is our duty to uncover the truth and achieve the right outcome. So we will strive for that,” Hirshland said from the South Lawn of the White House, where President Joe Biden honored numerous Olympic and Paralympic athletes on Monday morning.

“We’ve had very productive discussions with Jordan – and honestly, with the Romanians too. There has been extensive dialogue, and it has been constructive. Naturally, everyone has their own interests. Ultimately, the integrity of the competition is vital to sports, and we aim to protect that integrity.”

Chiles lost the bronze medal she secured on the floor exercise last month due to a controversy concerning when her coach filed a scoring appeal, which allowed Chiles to move ahead of two Romanian gymnasts into third place.

The Romanian Gymnastics Federation successfully claimed that the appeal was submitted four seconds late, prompting the Court of Arbitration for Sport to change the competition results. However, the Americans have discovered video evidence that they believe could reverse this decision and have requested the Swiss Federal Tribunal to review it along with various procedural concerns.

“If we didn’t think she earned the medal, our conversation would be different. But we are confident she earned that medal,” Hirshland emphasized. “Thus, we will urge the courts to reevaluate the evidence. Whether they will or not, we don’t know, but that’s our objective.”

One potential resolution in this case, which has Romanian sports authorities’ backing, would allow Chiles, revised bronze medalist Ana Barbosu, and her fellow competitor Sabrina Maneca-Voinea to share the bronze medal. When asked if the U.S. would back such a compromise, Hirshland mentioned the complexity of the situation.

“There are many intricacies involved in how that might be implemented, and I can’t provide you with a straightforward answer,” she explained. “We support maintaining the integrity of the competition and achieving a result that upholds that. And we believe that, in every instance, the bronze medal should remain with Jordan.”

Chiles did not attend the ceremony at the White House on Monday, as she is currently on the “Gold Over America Tour” with Simone Biles. However, around 400 other Team USA athletes participated, enjoying mini-tours of the White House and playing cornhole on the South Lawn before gathering to hear the president’s address. Biden was joined by U.S. swimmer Torri Huske and her parents, Paralympic basketball player Paul Schulte, and Paralympic hopeful Adrina Castro.

“My staff had their TVs on, watching you while I was preparing for a national security briefing,” Biden joked, eliciting laughter. “But to be fair, I also had the TV on in the Oval Office. We felt immense pride.”

For Hirshland, who recently accepted a five-year contract extension to remain in her role with the USOPC, the event marked a joyful conclusion to the cycle of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Team USA is now setting its sights on the 2026 Winter Games in Milano-Cortina and the highly anticipated 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

One critical question, especially for the 2026 Games, is whether Russian athletes will be permitted to return. A limited number of Russian athletes participated in the 2024 Games as “individual neutral athletes” following the International Olympic Committee’s sanctions against Russia (and Belarus) due to the invasion of Ukraine.

“Ultimately, the IOC makes the final call regarding the Games, while the international federations decide on their respective world cups and competitions,” Hirshland stated. “However, the suspensions were clearly enforced because of violations of the Olympic truce, and as far as I am aware, those circumstances remain unchanged.”

Additionally, Hirshland addressed the ongoing conflict between the World Anti-Doping Agency and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Tensions have risen recently due to WADA’s handling of 23 positive doping tests involving Chinese swimmers from 2021. WADA, in conjunction with Chinese anti-doping authorities, argued that the cases were due to contamination and opted not to disclose them publicly. USADA has accused WADA of essentially helping China keep this matter hidden while failing to apply anti-doping rules evenly.

“I can honestly say that I feel quite optimistic that the discussions are productive,” Hirshland remarked regarding WADA and USADA. “What’s transpired in the media may indicate otherwise, but the discussions occurring in the rooms I’m present in are constructive.”