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Lashinda Demus had her 2012 Olympic gold medal reallocated in 2024 after a doping scandal proved her rightful victory.
Twelve years since the 2012 London Olympics justice finally prevailed for Lashinda Demus.
The American hurdler was upgraded to gold in the 400-meter hurdles after the original winner, Russia’s Natalya Antyukh, was disqualified for doping.
For Demus, the journey from heartbreak to redemption spanned over 4,300 days—a journey that tested her patience, her career, and her faith in the system.
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Back in 2012, Demus crossed the finish line in 52.77 seconds, just 0.07 seconds behind Antyukh.
She had entered the Olympics as the favorite, but the razor-thin margin of defeat left her with a silver medal.
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10:00 - 21.12.2024
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The loss reverberated through her career, costing her lucrative endorsements and prime opportunities. Yet, even as rumors swirled about doping, Demus could do little but wait. And wait.
“I think they’re making it as close as possible to the real thing,” Demus said at a special medal ceremony in Paris earlier this year.
“I don’t get to do a victory lap at the stadium, the podium, going to the ‘Today Show’ after you win the medal, all that stuff. But I think they did as good a job as they could and I’m appreciative of that. I can settle my feelings with that.”
Demus was not willing to let the reallocated gold medal be delivered to her by mail or in a quiet exchange.
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Alongside the rightful silver and bronze medalists, she lobbied for a proper ceremony, one befitting the magnitude of their achievements.
And on August 9, 2024, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower during the Paris Summer Olympics, Demus finally received her gold medal in front of a cheering crowd.
The moment was bittersweet for Demus. She stood tall, wearing the gold medal she had rightfully earned, but the years lost could not be regained.
The celebrations of 2012, the endorsements, and the instant recognition would forever remain out of reach
Before athletes like Dalilah Muhammad and Sydney McLaughlin rose to fame in the 400-meter hurdles, Demus was the standard.
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She was a fierce competitor who consistently broke records and dominated the sport.
The delayed recognition of her Olympic gold solidified her place in history as one of the greatest hurdlers of all time.
Demus’ story is one of many in the broader narrative of justice delayed in the world of track and field.
Beverly McDonald, a Jamaican sprinter, also received her reallocated bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics during the same Paris ceremony.
At 54 years old, McDonald had long given up hope of ever receiving the medal she earned.
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Other athletes, like American high jumper Erik Kynard and Czech hurdler Zuzana Hejnova, joined Demus on the podium, sharing in the collective vindication.
Despite the years of waiting, the ceremony underscored the importance of clean competition and the enduring fight for fairness in athletics.
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