Grange congratulates trio of Olympic medallists
Published:Sunday | August 11, 2024 | 12:13 AM
SPORTS MINISTER, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has extended heartiest congratulations to Jamaican Olympians Beverley McDonald, Chelsea Hammond-Ross and Kaliese Spencer-Carter, who received bronze medals during an Olympics Reallocation Ceremony at the 2024 Olympic Games in France.
The medals were awarded to the Jamaican trio after three original medallists in the respective events several years ago were implicated in doping and consequently disqualified.
“I was pleased that Beverley, Chelsea and Kaliese got their just reward when they were presented with their medals in Paris at the ceremony which took place in front of an audience and with the iconic Eiffel Tower in the background. I congratulate all three women who have been distinguished representatives of Jamaica,” said Grange.
Grange also wished to commend the International Olympic Association (IOC) for proceeding with the ceremony where the Jamaican trio were given the opportunity to receive their medals.
“It is good that the IOC ensured that the right thing was done in the circumstances. The awarding of the medals represents confirmation that, though in instances it may be delayed, the moral arc of the universe usually bends towards justice. Beverley, Chelsea and Kaliese can hold their heads high and be proud of their accomplishments, which were achieved via hard work, dedication and talent,” said Grange.
McDonald, Hammond-Ross and Spencer-Carter received their bronze medals from the 2000 Sydney, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London games, respectively.
McDonald earned bronze in the women’s 200 metres and after Marion Jones, who won gold, admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs. Hammond-Ross’ 2008 bronze medal came on account of a banned substance found during retests of then silver-medal winner Tatyana Lebedeva in 2017.
Spencer-Carter’s bronze, coming in the 400m hurdles in London, was belatedly awarded because of the disqualification of Natalya Antyukh in the fallout from the Russian doping scandal. Antyukh finished third in that final.