Heartbreak as Aussie runners stripped of medal at world championships

Australia’s athletics world championships campaign has ended on a sad note with the women’s sprint relay team having a medal taken away.

Australia’s record-breaking U20s athletics world championships campaign has ended on a sad note with the women’s sprint relay team stripped of the silver medal.

The Aussie team won another four medals on the final night of competition at the event in Lima, Peru, but it was a devastating day for the 4x100m women’s relay team that crossed the line in the silver medal position.

Australia’s team of Aleksandra Stoilova, Torrie Lewis, Olivia Rose Inkster and Jessica Milat were celebrating their achievement when word came through their run was under review.

A few minutes later word came through the quartet had been officially disqualified after a bungled baton handover between Inkster and Lewis.

Inkster was outside the baton-exchange area when she took it from Lewis during the second baton exchange.

Australia was so close. Photo: Twitter, World Athletics.

With the American team also suffering a handover disaster, Australia was in the lead when Inkster handed the baton to Milat for the final leg.

Jamaica’s Alana Reid stormed home to finish ahead of Milat by a matter of metres.

It makes the disqualification that much harder for the Aussie team to suffer.

Switzerland was elevated to silver and Canada was elevated to bronze.

The Australian team is leaving Lima after its best ever results at the U20 world championships. An extraordinary haul of 14 medals smashed the previous benchmark (10 medals in 1996) set by any Aussie junior team.

Only America (16) won more medals than Australia.

The Aussie team finished seventh on the medal tally with two gold medals, seven silvers and five bronze.

That result was boosted by silver medals to 17-year-old Cam Myers in the 1500 metres and Izobelle Louison-Roe in the high jump.

Myers was only beaten in the final metres and had the lead with 20m to run.

The Aussie team missed out. Photo: Athletics Australia.

“It’s bittersweet when you follow your race plan, do everything right and someone is just better than you. That’s the reality of this sport sometimes. It’s motivating and I’ll be back stronger,” Myers said.

“What’s a professional runner that doesn’t want to win medals? It’s a great step in the right direction and no doubt it’s going to give me that kick-start into next year.”

The biggest star to emerge from the championships is the rise of Aussie 16-year-old Gout Gout, who took silver in the men’s 200m.

Medals won by Australian athletes at 2024 U20 World Athletics Championships

Delta Amidzovski, Women’s long jump, Gold

Mixed 4x400m relay, Gold

Gout Gout, Men’s 200m, Silver

Peyton Craig, Men’s 800m, Silver

Torrie Lewis, Women’s 200m, Silver

Claudia Hollingsworth, Women’s 800m, Silver

Cameron Myers, Men’s 1500m, Silver

Izobelle Louison-Roe, Women’s high jump, Silver

Women’s 4x400m relay, Silver

Men’s 4x400m relay, Bronze

Mason McGroder, Men’s long jump, Bronze

Delta Amidzovski, Women’s 100m hurdles, Bronze

Marley Raikiwasa, Women’s discus throw, Bronze

Tryphena Hewett, Women’s pole vault, Bronze

Originally published as Heartbreak as Aussie runners stripped of medal at world championships