Now it鈥檚 official 鈥� Christine Girard is an Olympic champion.
The retired B.C. weightlifter, who lives in South Surrey, learned this week from the International Olympic Committee that her bronze medal from the 2012 Summer Olympics 鈥� in the women鈥檚 63-kg competition 鈥� is now officially upgraded to gold.
The gold and silver medallists 鈥� Kazakhstan鈥檚 Maiya Maneza and Russia鈥檚 Svetlana Tsurukaeva, respectively 鈥� were discovered to have tested positive for banned substances, with Maneza being stripped of her medal in the , and Tsurukeva in April of last year, leaving Girard as the only clean athlete left from the original trio of podium finishes.
It's now official! I can call myself an Olympic Champion! :)
鈥� Christine Girard (@ch_girard)
Girard first heard the podium boost was last spring 鈥� days after Tsurukeva was stripped of silver 鈥� but did not hear official word from the IOC until earlier this week. The decision was announced officially Thursday morning.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just so thrilled it鈥檚 finally official,鈥� Girard told Black Press.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the last step in a long journey 鈥� this all started two years ago. We鈥檙e really happy this moment is finally here.鈥�
The next step for Girard 鈥� and the Canadian Olympic Committee 鈥� is to organize some type of medal ceremony, and offiially get the gold into Girard鈥檚 hands. Girard still doesn鈥檛 have the bronze medal she is owed from the 2008 Olympics 鈥� in which she finished fourth, but was bumped to third due to another doping sanction after the fact 鈥� and said she will recieve both medals at the upcoming ceremony.
In 2012, Girard鈥檚 bronze-medal win was a watershed moment for Canadian weightlifting 鈥� she was the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal. Now, she is also Canada鈥檚 first two-time medallist in the sport.
鈥淐ongratulations to Christine for this spectacular achievement. She is a weightlifting trailblazer in so many ways and we are extremely proud of her,鈥� Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith said in a news release.
鈥淐hristine 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.鈥�
When speaking to Black Press last year about the failed drug tests of her two competitors, Girard said she was thrilled to be in line for a gold medal, but did feel cheated, in a sense, because she did not get to celebrate the win in the moment, at the 2012 Games.
Now, however, she鈥檚 excited to have her own ceremony, which she expects to happen 鈥渟ometime later this year.鈥�
鈥淭his way, I鈥檒l get to share the moment with more people from here, so that鈥檚 good, too,鈥� she said.
As well, Girard 鈥� who is originally from Rouyn-Noranda, Que. said she hopes the new ceremony will further help bring attention to the anti-doping cause 鈥� which is something she feels strongly about.
鈥淚 think having my medal later gives a stronger message鈥� even though I didnt have that moment in London,鈥� she said.
鈥淭his is a win for (clean) athletes, a win for our country and a win for our values. I鈥檓 pretty happy about that.鈥�
