Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Lawrence and McDonald

Better late than never was basically how Jamaicans Tayna Lawrence and Bev McDonald described their wait for an upgraded medal from the 2002 Sydney Olympic Games.

Disgraced American sprinter Marion Jones, on October 5, pleaded guilty to lying to United States government investigators when she denied using performance-enhancing drugs, and subsequently announced her retirement from athletics.

Jones, who lost her medals, broke down in tears as she apologised for her action, saying she fully understands she has disappointed her friends, family and supporters.

She has since returned the five medals, three gold (100m, 200m, 4x400m), and bronze (4x100m and long jump).

"I guess in the long run, it's a great achievement, I mean, after so long, yeah," Lawrence told The Gleaner from her Florida-based home. "I am grateful, I am very happy."

Lawrence, who finished third in the 100m, believes that "it's going to make a whole lot of difference, but eight years after, it's still a wonderful accomplishment."

Merlene Ottey was fourth in the 100m and she, too, will move a notch up to bronze.

McDonald, who was fourth in the 200m final, said: "I will take it because I think I deserved a medal at the Olympics in 2000 ... but, you know, I still have lost a lot of money because of that also. In a way, it's good to know you are getting an Olympic medal."

Athletes who finished behind disgraced sprinter Jones, will move up in order, said International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge.

"We move them up," Rogge told reporters on Thursday during a round-table forum at a New York hotel.

Running out of lane one, McDonald finished fourth in 22.40 behind Jones (21.84), Pauline Davis-Thompson of The Bahamas (22.27) and Susanthika Jaya-singhe of Sri Lanka (22.38).

'Cannot get it back'

"You lost money from your contract, and know you cannot get it back, so I don't worry about it anymore," said McDonald, whose Olympic tally now moves to three gold medals.

Lawrence, who said she is a full-time mother now after recently giving birth to a boy, says she doesn't know if things would have been different if she had got this silver long before now.

"I don't know what it would have done, but right now, looking back, I would say no (it would not matter)," she added.