Shannon Rowbury is finally set to receive an Olympic bronze medal from the London 2012 Games, 12 years after crossing the finish line. Initially placing sixth in the women’s 1,500-meter final, Rowbury will now be elevated to third due to the disqualification of several competitors for doping offenses. This makes Rowbury the first American woman to win a 1,500m track medal at the Olympics.

The London race was a turning point for Rowbury. Competing in front of an electrifying crowd was a career highlight, but as details of doping among her competitors emerged, the race became synonymous with scandal. The final is now known as one of the “dirtiest” in track and field history, with five athletes, including the original gold and silver medalists, Aslı Çakır Alptekin and Gamze Bulut of Turkey, disqualified for doping.

The latest disqualification came this month when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed Russian runner Tatyana Tomashova a 10-year doping ban. With Tomashova’s results from June 2012 to January 2015 disqualified, Rowbury moves into the bronze medal position.

Rowbury’s reaction to the news was emotional. She recalls “shaking” upon reading the CAS statement, releasing “12 years of pain” in tears. “Athletes in our position are very much in the dark,” she told CNN Sport. The recognition is a long-awaited relief after nearly losing hope that justice would ever come.

Rowbury’s career spanned five world championships and three Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016). Despite her successes, she struggled with the reality of doping in her sport, calling it “the most heartbreaking part.” The unfair competition took its toll, contributing to her retirement in 2018.

Even after retiring, the sting of doping scandals lingered. Rowbury couldn’t bring herself to watch the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, still feeling disillusioned. Working as an analyst at the Paris Games gave her some hope, noticing what appeared to be a cleaner era in track and field.

Now 40, Rowbury looks forward to possibly receiving her medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Meanwhile, she’s rekindling her love for running, training for her first marathon in New York. Rediscovering the sport on her terms has been healing, allowing her to connect with the joy and community that running once brought her.