Three Jamaicans Have Been Awarded Medals During the Reallocation Ceremony in Paris
Three Jamaican are among athletes who previously competed at the Olympic Games were honored with medals during a special reallocation ceremony in Paris on Friday.
🥉 – Keliese Spencer (400mH, London 2012)
🥉 – Chelsea Hammond-Ross (long jump, Beijing 2008)
🥉 – Beverly McDonald (200m, Sydney 2000)
According to the International Olympic Committee, “These athletes competed fairly throughout their careers in the true spirit of the Olympic Games,” commented Terho after the ceremony. “I am pleased that we’ve been able to celebrate them in a location befitting their achievements, and that they have enjoyed a special experience with their families here in Paris.”
The recipients include Kaliese Spencer, who was elevated to the bronze medal for the women’s 400 metre hurdles, following her fourth-place finish at the London Olympics in 2012, due to the disqualification of the then gold medal winner, Russian athlete Natalya Antyukh.
Kaliese Spencer, in an interview with Nationwide’s Wayne Walker, expressed her gratitude upon receiving her medal.
From the 2008 Games in Beijing, Chelsea Hammond-Ross was awarded the bronze medal for the long jump, subsequent to the disqualification of Russia’s Tatyana Lebedeva, the former silver medalist. Hammond-Ross characterized the belated awarding of her medal as bittersweet.
Additionally, Beverley McDonald, who participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, secured an individual Olympic medal by being upgraded to the bronze in the 200 metre event, following the disqualification of the USA’s Marion Jones, who had originally won the gold. McDonald expressed her excitement and relief upon learning of her medal upgrade.
In total, ten athletes were reallocated medals at the Champions Park in Paris by members of the International Olympic Committee.
International Olympic Committee
Medal reallocation plays an important role in upholding the Olympic values and rewarding those who stay true to sport, and the IOC has been offering athletes the possibility to have a reallocation ceremony that recognises their achievements and gives them exposure.
Olympic medal reallocation principles
The decision to include the Champions Park as an additional venue option for medal reallocation ceremonies was taken by the IOC Executive Board (EB) following a recommendation from the IOC AC in March 2024. This exceptional option was made available to athletes who already had their reallocation approved by the IOC EB before the Olympic Games Paris 2024, but who had not yet had their ceremony.
For more than six years, athletes whose reallocation has been approved can choose from one of six options for a medal reallocation ceremony, such as at the next edition of the Olympic Games or during a private ceremony.