Former Team USA star Lashinda Demus is set to finally receiver her London 2012 gold medal after it as upgraded to gold when her rival was disqualified for doping.
Twelve years ago, Demus took silver in the women’s 400m hurdles at the London Olympics , with Russian Natalya Antyukh clinching victory by just seven-hundredths of a second. Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic took bronze.
Demus, who failed to qualify for the Beijing Games four years prior, flew off her blocks to an early lead, and the American led for the first two hurdles before Russia’s Antyukh surged past. Antyukh steadily extended her lead to a full length by the ninth hurdle, although she ultimately barely held off Demus to win gold.
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At the medal ceremony in London, officials gave gold to Antyukh, while Demus, wearing silver, stood on the podium as the State Anthem of the Russian Federation blared over the stadium speakers. But in March 2020, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) charged Antyukh and three other Russian track and field athletes with doping offenses, stating that the athletes used “a prohibited substance or method.”
The ruling meant Demus could claim her gold. After negotiating for a year with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Demus secured an unprecedented deal to ensure she gets her deserved moment.
On August 9, the IOC will stage a medal reallocation ceremony on-site at an Olympic Games for the first time. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Champions Park, Demus will receive her gold medal on a podium along with the rightful silver and bronze medalists: Hejnova and Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer.
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Demus’ family will be in attendance when the Team USA stud gets her hands on the gold medal that has eluded her for 12 years. She said: “Finally receiving the gold medal in Paris at the Olympics is a dream come true.”
Traditionally, reallocation ceremonies occur at non-Olympic events such as world championships. Ultimately, 10 athletes will receive their medals at the ceremony - all who competed and were wronged in 2012 Olympics events featuring Russians charged with doping, including American high jump ace Erik Kynard, whose silver will become gold after Ivan Ukhov was disqualified for doping.
Demus’ career included two Olympic appearances: the 2004 Athens Games and the 2012 London Olympics. She retired a two-time world champion, along with national, NCAA , and junior titles - and now long-awaited Olympic gold.
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