A medal found does not replace a medal lost

BEIJING -- It was easy to imagine what an emotionally wrenching experience Wallace Spearmon had Wednesday night, even if he did not want to address it until a day later.

"I am devastated,'' Spearmon said in a Thursday statement.  "I ran my heart out for my country and have a strong finish in a world-record race.''

Spearmon, a native of Blue Island, Ill., was third across the finish line in the final of the 200 meters.  He was given an American flag and embarked on a lap of honor with winner Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who broke the world record, and silver medalist Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles.

When Bolt stopped to do the shimmy, Spearmon shimmied along.

In the celebration, he did not notice the amended result come up on the video board, the one that showed Spearmon at the bottom of the finish list with a "DQ" where his time of 9.95 seconds had been.

He had toured nearly the whole track before an official gave him the news. "Huh?'' Spearmon mouthed.  "Me?''

Spearmon had been disqualified because he stepped out of the inside (left) part of his lane on the curve.  By cutting inside, a runner actually shortens the distance of the race.

U.S. coaches immediately studied video to see if there would be a way to appeal the DQ.  What they found did not help Spearmon -- but did help his teammates in the race.

The video review showed Martina ran out of his lane on the opposite, which constitutes impeding the runner to the right. So USA track officials, after agreeing with the Spearmon decision, filed a formal protest on Martina that was upheld by the meet jury of appeals.

That meant Shawn Crawford jumped from fourth to silver, and Walter Dix from fifth to third, giving him a second sprint bronze medal.

"We wanted to make sure the results of the race were fair,'' said Team USA head men's Coach Bubba Thornton.

Crawford wanted no part of getting a medal at the expense of his friend, Spearmon.  That is why he declined to celebrate with the flag that Spearmon handed him, a response that dignified both young men.

"I just stood there like, 'Man, what do I do?' '' Crawford said, knowing only of the Spearmon disappointment.

It mattered little that Crawford would not have had time for a victory lap before the next race began.

"I didn't want to take a lap anyway,'' Crawford said.  "That just wouldn't look right or seem classy.

"That was his [Spearmon's] moment. I'm sharing his disappointment. I don't deserve the medal. I feel like I'm going home with a medal that was given to me.''

-- Philip Hersh

Photo: Shawn Crawford watches the results board. He ended up taking the silver medal when teammate Wallace Spearmon was disqualified for stepping too far to one side on the curve. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

For the record: In an earlier post, a caption said that Shawn Crawford won the bronze medal; he won the silver.

Comments

[Olympics Beijing]

Exactly, what a SORRY way of getting an Olympic medal whilst you know you totally do NOT deserve it. Shame on you, and note that the WORLD do not consist of the USA only, the USA may be a powerful country but there are way more powerful forces out there! Churandy Martina from the Netherlands Antilles worked as hard or even harder than you guys, especially not having the resources you have in your "wonderful" USA...but Thanks for taking away the dream of a good island guy, whom you all and the world know is a way better sprinter than Crawford, Spearmon, and Dix.

[Megan Eason]

...Hey -

You are a really fast runner i'v watched all the races that you ran in Your "Good ". Love
Your Friend Megan

[from curacao]

The US has shown clearly that sports for them is not about good sportmanship or accepting defeat with grace. Sports is about winning, no matter what.
Although the rules apply to everyone, it was clear that Shurandy Martina did not hinder anyone, nor did any time he gained by stepping on the line, bring the others closer to his time. Still, even though the jury did not see him stepping on the line, and his time clearly qualified him as number 2, the US found it necessary to actively pursue getting him disqualified.
We teach our kids that good sportmanship is about the most important thing in sports, as is learning how to lose with grace. The US seemingly intends to teach that the game is about winning only. The results justify the means.
So, congratulations on the silver and bronze medals in the 200 meter run. If it is that important to you, that you would go to these lengths, have it, by all means.
We have established without doubt that the American runners were outrun, and will continue to be outrun, by our Shurandy. The disqualification does not take that away.
Shurandy won silver, but the US got the medal! Great.

[David H.]

Dear Idiots Supporting the Cheating of Churandy Martina:

Grow up. Any nation would've done what the US track folks did. And ultimately they are not to blame, but rather the track officials who took their eyes off the ball, so to speak, and did not spot Martina's violation.

Martina ran a great race but he broke the rule. The rule does not say it's OK to break it so long as you don't gain an advantage or hurt an opponent. The rules says if you step on the line you're disqualified. Period.

Quit crying about it & ask yourself how an experienced international racer (or rather two) could make such a fundamental, amateur mistake on the biggest stage in the world.

[Kamo]

the way the US records the medal count is ridiculous and totally lacking in class! The chinese have many more golds and are clearly head and shoulders above the US but you report it as total medals regardless of gold being far more achievement than bronze. The world is laughing at you for this arrogance!
I am British.
Regarding this race, if Spearmon had to be DQ then I think its only right Martina was too, even though it is very sad. Also tough on Crawford and Dix, such an unseemly & undignified way to win a gold.