22nd January 2014

SHARP TO BE PRESENTED WITH EUROPEAN GOLD IN GLASGOW

22 January 2014

British Athletics today confirmed that European 800m champion Lynsey Sharp, who was coached by Dave Sunderland when she competed in Helsinki, will be presented her 2012 European Championships gold medal in front of her home crowd at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match at the Emirates Arena on Saturday 25 January.

Last year, Sharp was promoted from silver to gold medal position in the 800m at the 2012 European Championships and from bronze to silver position in the 800m at the 2011 European Under-23 Championships after Russian 800m runner Yelena Arzhakova was banned for two years for a doping offence.

For the Edinburgh AC athlete, who is now coached by Terrence Mahon, receiving her medal in Glasgow will be a moment she won’t forget:

“When I was first told about my upgrade, my reaction to the news was a mixture of disappointment, satisfaction and elation. I was disappointed that another athlete has been discovered breaking the rules and that I was denied the chance to hear my national anthem played in the stadium. But I’m pleased that the system is working, that the athlete in question has been caught.

“It will be a very special moment for me, my family and my support team when I’m presented with my European medal at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match. It will be made even more special that I will be receiving it on home soil, in front of a home crowd.

"It’s a great way to start 2014 and with my injury rehab going well, I’m aiming to be fully fit for the Commonwealth Games in July and to defend my European title in Zurich.”

British Athletics Performance Director, Neil Black said:

“It was a disappointment to us all that Lynsey did not get the moment on the podium that she deserved in Helsinki but we look forward to making a presentation to her at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match in front of her home crowd this weekend.”