‘Icing on the cake’ as golden girl Olive crowned world champ
COACHFORD’S OLIVE FINALLY GETS HER GOLD MEDAL
IT may have taken seven years to happen but the golden girl of Irish race walking, Coachford’s Olive Loughnane, has finally been afforded the recognition that her world beating efforts deserved.
Despite retiring from the sport three-years ago Olive made a triumphant comeback at the World Athletics Championships on Wednesday to be presented with the gold medal she was so cruelly denied back in 2009.
Olive finished second behind 2008 Olympic champion Russia’s Olga Kaniskina in the 20km race walk at the 2009 Championships in Berlin – her best ever finish in a major event.
However, in January 2015 it emerged that Kaniskina was among a number of Russian athletes banned for doping by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).
In March of this year the 2009 race result was annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – paving the way for Olive to be awarded the coveted gold medal and the title of World Champion.
The court also stripped Sergay Kirdyapkin of the gold he won in the men’s 50km at the 2012 London Olympics – automatically elevating Cork’s Rob Heffernan into bronze medal position.
On Wednesday Olive was finally presented with her long-overdue gold medal by the President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Sebastian Coe during a ceremony at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam.
The Corkman managed to catch up with the mother of three on Tuesday as she prepared to fly out to Amsterdam with her husband Martin and oldest daughter Eimear.
Olive said they were all looking forward to the experience, in particular Eimear who was only three years old at the time of the race.
“It would be fair to say that she was distinctly underwhelmed back in 2009 because she was so young,” laughed Olive.
“Eimear is that bit older now and sees things differently. She is immensely proud, as are my whole family, friends and the people that have supported me along the way. The whole experience is kind of surreal but in a funny way it is good that it turned out this way because people see that doing things the right and proper way does pay off,” she added.
While there were murmurings of irregularities within Russian athletics for some time, Olive insisted that she had never dwelled on that or viewed her outstanding achievement in 2009 in any negative fashion.
“In many ways it was easier to take for me than Rob. At least I got to stand on the podium back in 2009 and watch the Irish flag begin raised. He did not get that chance,” she said.
“I still have wonderful memories of that day and those and the memories that I will have from Wednesday, will remain with me for the rest of my life.”
She did say that finally receiving her deserved gold medal would be “the icing on the cake” and the final chapter of her glorious athletics career.
“That is really how I view it. I gave my best on that day back in 2009. I gave every single ounce that I had and it is wonderful to know that was worth gold and to be the best in the world.”
The gold medal means that Olive now joins Eamon Coughlan, Sonia O’Sullivan and Rob Heffernan among an elite group of Irish athletics World Champions. “I’m in good company alright,” grinned Olive. “To be honest it is a little bit weird to hear my name mentioned in the same breath as those greats of the sport. These are people who have become iconic Irish sporting figures”.
Olive said that she had no plans to celebrate he gold medal when she returns home.
“I am just looking forward to the day and want to stay refreshed so I can savour every moment of the occasion. But I am sure there will be some kind of celebration when I get back home,” she said.
Coachford Community Council spokesman Peter Dineen said the whole community was immensely proud of Olive
“We will certainly mark her magnificent achievement in some fashion when Olive returns home,” he said.