2012 American 400m hurdler Lashinda Demus will finally win gold in Paris – Essence

“I should have won that.” That’s what I assumed after that race in 2012,” said the previous Olympic runner and U.S. 400-meter hurdles competitor Let’s give Lashinda tells ESSENCE. “At that time, I rarely lost races, and this was the race I was losing. That’s why it was so hard for me to accept the fact that I hadn’t achieved my goal. I knew I was more than capable of winning a gold medal.”

The race she’s referring to is the London Olympics, where the University of South Carolina graduate won silver in her special event behind a Russian athlete. In 2022, a decade later, she learned — via a public press release — that she was now the official gold medalist, after the winner was disqualified for doping by the International Olympic Committee. That turn of events cemented Demus in the history books as the primary American woman to win gold in an Olympic event.

“For example, I didn’t even get a personal call from the IOC or anything to let me know that there was an investigation,” she says. “It was calls from other people who even informed me about the announcement. But before that, I just had to forget about the London moment because it was harmful for me to hold on to it.”

“Something like that can stifle your development. Especially now, as a part-time high school track coach, I never want my kids to be that hard on themselves. I wouldn’t wish that on any child.”

After contacting a world attorney based in New York, the American hurdler was capable of fight for the suitable to a medal ceremony on the Olympic Games – just as it will have been in 2012.

On August 9, 2024, Demus will finally receive her gold medal on the 2024 Paris Olympics in a historic, first-of-its-kind relocation ceremony. The International Olympic Committee will give the retired runner the well-deserved honor at Champions Park in the French city. Despite a rule stopping the IOC from holding the special podium event in the identical stadium where the 2024 Olympians are set to compete, she remains to be overjoyed to have this moment.

“I’m happy they can hold the ceremony at Champions Park, which is under the Eiffel Tower,” the gold medalist shares. “The IOC literally created this event because they knew I wouldn’t turn it down. So I’m happy with that. When they said they were going to do it for me, they had to do it for other athletes who were in similar circumstances, including two other Americans who are now going to get gold.”

To top it off, her family members will be by her side for the dignity, just as they were in London. But bringing her husband, mother (who coached her on the 2012 Olympics), father and 4 sons to Paris comes with its own financial burden. Rather than let pride get in the way in which, the retired athlete was convinced by her publicist to lean on GoFundMe to assist raise funds for all the family to travel to this historic event.

“At first, I didn’t know if I wanted to do it because I don’t work. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to take everyone with me. When the donations started coming in, it was such a relief. Honestly, I was overwhelmed and didn’t know how to respond to everyone. I’m so happy. I feel better knowing I’ll have them with me.”

Beyond her historic rededication ceremony, Demus is most looking forward to experiencing the Olympics together with her children. Her oldest sons, who’re twins and highschool track stars, will get to experience the atmosphere, which the present track coach says could have a huge effect on their careers as young athletes.

“For them to experience this could be the foundation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles,” Demus explains. “It’s going to be incredibly exciting for us as a family. We’re going to two nights of track and field competition.”

As for who she’ll be rooting for on the 2024 Paris Olympics, “I can’t wait to see Sydney McLaughlin-Levron, Sha’Carri, Gabby Thomas and of course my competition, the 400-meter hurdles.”