Australian walker Jared Tallent to be awarded Olympic gold - but it’s lost some of its shine

AUSTRALIA’S newest member of the Olympic champions club, Jared Tallent, must wait until June for his 2012 London Olympics gold medal to be rubber stamped.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: (L-R) Silver medalist Jared Tallent of Australia, gold medalist Sergey Kirdyapkin of Russia and bronze medalist Tianfeng Si of China pose during the medal ceremony for the Men's 50km Walk on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games on The Mall on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

AUSTRALIA’S newest member of the Olympic champions club, Jared Tallent, must wait until June for his 2012 London Olympics gold medal to be rubber stamped.

Robbed of the rich prize by Russian drug cheat Sergey Kirdyapkin, Tallent will have his victory in the torturous 50km walk ratified at an International Olympic Committee meeting.

The IOC will use that meeting to reallocate medals, although it must wait for the Tallent’s gold to be returned from Russia.

Athletics Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee will then have a “meaningful” presentation to honour Tallent with his deserved medal.

The International Association of Athletics Federations website now lists Tallent as the winner of the event.

“This is very special, something I have fought hard for,’’ Tallent said.

“This is a victory for clean athletes and justice has prevailed.

“I have believed I was the winner ever since I finished the race, that I was the real winner on the dais. It is going to be fantastic to get the medal.’’

This is very special, something I have fought hard for. This is a victory for clean athletes and justice has prevailed

Jared Tallent

Tallent had been confident he would be recognised as the gold medallist when an investigation into drug taking by Russian athletes was announced in January last year. He strongly believed the right outcome would eventuate.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland upheld an appeal by the IAAF against ‘selective’ disqualification of six Russian athletes by the Russian Athletics Federation.

The CAS ruled all competitive results from Kirdyapkin from August 20, 2009, to October 15, 2012 would be disqualified.

History has been rewritten.... I am Olympic champion! pic.twitter.com/eRRCy6zqXt

— Jared Tallent (@JaredTallent) March 24, 2016

While elated to now be called an Olympic champion, Tallented admitted there was still a hollow feeling.

“I never got that special moment, got to stand on top of the podium in front of the people who have seen me compete, all the friends and family,’’ he said.

“I did not get to cross the line first.

“But I’m going to be more motivated for Rio (Olympic Games in August) now I am the defending champion.

“I don’t have long to celebrate but it is very motivating, makes me even more determined.’’

Tallent will travel Arizona in the US today for three weeks of high-altitude training.

Originally published as Australian walker Jared Tallent to be awarded Olympic gold - but it’s lost some of its shine