Get Premium Data for Cyber Monday: Up to 55% Off InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Bobsleigh: U.S. sledder Holcomb gets posthumous Olympic silver medals

Published 03/28/2019, 07:21 AM
Updated 03/28/2019, 07:25 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Bobsleigh - BMW IBSF Bob & Skeleton World Championships - 4-men final race - Koenigssee

LONDON (Reuters) - The late U.S. bobsledder Steven Holcomb has been confirmed as a double Olympic silver medalist, five years on from the 2014 Sochi Games, after Russian winners were stripped of gold for doping.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed the reallocation of medals from the four and two-man bob after the exhaustion of appeals.

Russia's Alexander Zubkov was stripped of his two golds by the IOC in 2017 but had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Holcomb, who piloted the U.S. four-man 'Night Train' bobsled to gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, died unexpectedly in May 2017 at the age of 37.

The U.S. Olympic Committee said the upgraded medals will be presented to the athletes and Holcomb’s family in a ceremony at a date to be arranged.

"It’s unfortunate that our results were not official in February of 2014 and that we’ve had to endure the long process to see justice finally served," said team mates Chris Fogt, Steve Langton, and Curt Tomasevicz.

"We are happy that we now can celebrate and be proud of the silver medal accomplishments."

The reallocation means Latvia won the four-man gold while Britain are promoted to bronze -- taking their Sochi tally to five medals and equaling Pyeongchang 2018 as the country's most successful Winter Games.

"Recognition from the IOC of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic four-man bobsleigh result is a big step forward to us receiving our Olympic bronze medal," said Britain's John Jackson, whose team mates were Stuart Benson, Bruce Tasker and Joel Fearon, in a Team GB statement on Thursday.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Bobsleigh - BMW IBSF Bob & Skeleton World Championships - 4-men final race - Koenigssee

"Disappointingly, it is a medal we should have received on an Olympic podium in 2014. Cheats have cost us that moment, along with other nations too."

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.