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Belgian women's relay team finally gets 2008 Olympic gold

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September 10, 2016
Belgian runners (from left) Kim Gevaert, Elodie Ouedraogo, Olivia Borlee and Hanna Marien stand on the podium after receiving the gold medal for the Women's 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics during the Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics event, at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels yesterday. The Belgian team, initially winning silver, were moved up to gold after one runner on the Russian team tested positive for a banned substance. (AP Photo)

BRUSSELS, AP:

The Belgian 2008 women's Olympic 4x100 relay team was officially handed its gold medals yesterday -- eight years after crossing the line at the Beijing Games in second place behind Russia.

The team moved up to gold this year after a Russian runner was caught doping in a retest.

In a stirring ceremony before some 40,000 fans attending the Van Damme Memorial meet, the four runners were finally handed their new medals by former IOC President Jacques Rogge, who was still in office at the Beijing Games.

Kim Gevaert, Elodie Ouedraogo, Hanna Marien and Olivia Borlee were all dressed in fitting golden tops as they received the biggest prize of their careers. Only Borlee is still an active athlete.

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