U.S. Athlete Receives Olympic Gold Medal After 12 Years
Lashinda Demus, a former 41-year-old athlete from the U.S., was officially recognized as the gold medalist in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2012 London Olympics after her competitor was found guilty of doping. Demus received her gold medal in a formal ceremony held in Paris, where the 2024 Olympics will take place.
At the London 2012 Olympics, Demus was a strong contender in the 400m hurdles but finished second with a time of 52.77 seconds, just 0.07 seconds behind Russia’s Natalya Antyukh. This result led to significant financial losses for Demus, as she missed out on sponsorships and bonuses that would have come with a gold medal. Despite this, Demus emphasized that her disappointment was more about the integrity of the competition rather than the financial implications. She kept her silver medal tucked away, feeling it didn’t represent her true potential.
Demus was one of 10 athletes from past Olympic Games who attended the medal ceremony in Paris, after it was confirmed that some of their competitors had used performance-enhancing drugs. Antyukh’s results from July 2012 to June 2013 were annulled by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), and she was stripped of her gold medal from the 400m hurdles in London. As a result, Demus was awarded the gold medal in Paris, fulfilling her goal 12 years later.
In 2017, Demus became aware of the systemic doping in Russia through the documentary “Icarus.” Initially, she didn’t expect to be elevated to gold medal status but started paying closer attention when Antyukh’s doping violations came to light. After overcoming the disappointment of London 2012, Demus continued her life, working in healthcare research and coaching a high school track team in Culver City, California.
Determined to have a proper recognition, Demus proactively contacted the International Olympic Committee (IOC), ensuring that the medal ceremony would be held on a global stage. She even raised $21,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to cover travel expenses for her family to attend the ceremony in Paris. On August 9, she was honored at a ceremony in the Champions Park at Trocadero Square, near the Eiffel Tower, in front of thousands of fans.
Reflecting on the event, Demus was moved by the enthusiasm of the crowd, and she noted that receiving the medal felt like a shared victory, more like a team accomplishment than an individual honor.
