Lashinda Demus is now getting what she deserved a long time ago. The former South Carolina (2002-2004) track and field All-American and National Champion will finally have an Olympic gold medal placed around her neck, a dozen years after she should have received it, this summer in Paris, France, in the first-ever Game’s Reallocation Ceremony.
“I’m excited,” said Demus, who is now officially recognized as the gold medalist in the 400-meter hurdles from the 2012 London Olympics. Demus had originally taken the silver medal in the event, but two years ago, Russian hurdler Natalya Antyukh was stripped of the 2012 gold medal due to doping. “I’m excited to be a spectator once I get there. I haven’t been to an Olympic Games as a spectator.
“It will be the first trip to Europe for my youngest kids. It will be a great experience and a great family celebration that we can have. I have two little ones who weren’t able to see me in my prime and competing at the level I was. At least they will be able to see some of the accolades that came with me doing that. I’m excited to have this experience with my family.”
Demus now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jamel Mayrant, and four sons with 16-year-old twins Dontay and Duaine, five-year-old Syre, and four-year-old Sincere.
When she accepts the medal in Paris’ Champions Park on August 9 with the Eiffel Tower behind her, it will mark the first time that a reallocation ceremony has taken place at the Olympics.
“Once I found out that I was declared the gold medalist, it was already a part of my thought process that because this was an international competition where millions of people were watching me compete, why should we not be rewarded internationally as well,” said Demus, who originally wanted the International Olympic Committee to present the medals in Paris’ Olympic Stadium during the games, but due to event scheduling, the IOC and Demus worked together to hold the reallocation ceremony at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
“They gave me a couple of choices that did not include receiving anything at the Olympic Games. I sought out some legal help just in case, but there has been open communication from the IOC and USOC from day one. So, they did hear me, and they did want to make things right. I really appreciate that. I wanted to be sure it was settled internationally so that the world could acknowledge me as a gold medalist as well. I was offered to accept my medal at the U.S….