Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Recently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made a decision to strip the United States' Marion Jones of the medals she had won at the 1996 Olympic Olympic Games in Sydney.

One of the Jamaicans to benefit from this decision was Beverly McDonald in the 200 metres.

McDonald, who had a fourth-place finish, is now the owner of the bronze medal, which now sees her getting her first individual Olympic medal.

She had won an individual medal at the 1999 World Championships in Seville, where she did her personal best of 22.22 seconds for silver.

The 39-year-old McDonald, who retired from the sport a few years ago, has mixed feelings about getting the medal.

"I am happy that I am able to get what I was deserved although it took so long to come," she told The Gleaner from her home in Dallas, Texas.

"Getting the medal now, I am not able to enjoy the moment, as not participating in the medal ceremony at the time has taken away the whole satisfaction and feeling of the moment," she pointed out, adding, "however, this is another addition to my tally of medals."

Justice done

McDonald stated that she was not surprised by the decision.

"We all had an idea at the time that something was not right but we could not have done anything. But I am happy that justice has been done as it is unfair for people to be working so hard to be cheated out of a medal," McDonald remarked.

Apart from Merlene Ottey and Veronica Campbell-Brown, no other Jamaican female athlete has got more medals at the inter-national level than the former Vere Technical High School athlete. She has now ended her career with two individual and seven relay medals, which includes six at the World Championships and three at the Olympic Games.

In closing she was asked if there was any chance of her getting back in track and field at the administrative level.

"I think I have served my time well as an athlete, and I will never get back in the sport as it is all about my family now," she said.