Time, some say is the best judge, and a perfect example of this axiom happened on Friday, August 09, 2024 when Jamaican sprinter – Beverly McDonald received her long awaited Olympic bronze medal after twenty-four years.
McDonald, now 54yrs, had been knocked off the podium having finished fourth in the women’s 200m, behind Marion Jones of the US who came third at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Australia.
But Marion Jones who later confessed to doping was stripped of the medal, giving way to McDonald to receive the medal but after almost 24 years, and through three decades, without receiving it the for Jamaican had given up of a sort.
“[It’s] a bittersweet moment,” she said. “I thought I wasn’t going to be nervous, [but] once I went out there and saw the crowd, it was really amazing.”
“I think it’s a different moment,” McDonald said. “You’re [not] going to be with the top three athletes – silver, gold medal. Here you’re just you, by yourself, getting a medal. So it felt a little different, but it’s still a great feeling.”
