Doping? Zero excuses. No, whether early, late, or in between. Why? Because it gives an unfair advantage in speed, strength, endurance, etc. Who wants to win that way? Remember the 2012 London track and field Olympics?
In the 400-meter hurdles final, the silver medalist missed gold by 0.07 seconds. Later, the gold medalist was caught doping. Twelve years later! After 12 years, the rightful winner received gold at 41. Justice took its sweet time, but sports should always be fair, right?
Lashinda Demus experienced that. At the 2012 Olympics, she finished in 52.77 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles, while Natalya Antyukh of Russia finished in 52.70.
Although Demus was the favorite, she won silver instead of gold. She lost endorsement deals and big career opportunities after losing gold, making it even harder. The cherry? Antyukh doped. Yes, cheating.
However, the truth took 4,300+ days to emerge. Demus took first place after Antyukh's gold medal was revoked. Demus wouldn't sit quietly and accept a medal from NBS in the mail. She fought harder.
She and the rightful silver and bronze medalists campaigned for a medal ceremony, and guess what? She achieved it. In front of the Eiffel Tower on August 9, 2024. Demus finally won her gold medal in front of a crowd.
It was the first Summer Olympics track and field medal ceremony with reallocated medals, and honestly? As it should have been.
Demus set 400-meter hurdles records before Dalilah Muhammad and Sydney McLaughlin. Justice prevailed after years of waiting and fighting, and Demus received her gold medal and place in history. After a long wait, Demus wasn't the only track and field athlete to medal.