Canadian Weightlifter is Being Awarded Olympic Gold Medal from London 2012

Christine Girard has been waiting patiently for six years, but now she is officially being awarded an Olympic Gold medal.

Girard competed in the women’s 63 kg weight class weightlifting event at the London 2012 Olympics.  Her valiant effort earned her a bronze medal at the time.

However, the IOC has recently ordered the retesting of over 1,500 urine samples of athletes competing in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.  After being caught for doping, Maiya Manzea of Kazakhstan and Svetlana Tsarukaeva of Russia were both disqualified from the weightlifting event, resulting in Girard moving from third to first place.

“I never doubted for a moment, that I did all that I could do to win that gold medal.  To have my efforts and those of my trainers, family, and supporters validated, means the world to me, even if it is after six long years,” said Girard.  “This gold medal is a testament to clean sport. It means even more to me now, than had I heard O Canada played that day in London.”

The Canadian Olympic Committee is currently in contact with the IOC to organize a medal ceremony for Girard.  With her new prize, Girard is now the first Canadian to win Olympic gold in weightlifting, and only the second Canadian gold medalist from the 2012 London games.

“Congratulations to Christine for this spectacular achievement,” said president of the Canadian Olympic Committee Tricia Smith. “She is a weightlifting trailblazer in so many ways, and we are extremely proud of her. Christine has always lived the values of sport and of competing clean. We are so pleased to see her finally receive the Olympic gold medal which she has so rightfully earned.”