WHEN Kaliese Carter (nee Spencer) crossed the finishing line in the 400m hurdles final at the 2012 London Olympic Games she was engulfed by a sense of regret and disappointment.

Three ladies had beaten her to the line. Another season of dominant displays on the circuit would end without the ultimate prize – a championships medal.

She could not have known at that point that this would be her only appearance at the Olympic Games or that fate would present a surprising reward for her efforts and dedication over the years.

Carter was officially upgraded to the bronze medal position in 2023 by the International Olympic Committee following the disqualification of Natalya Antyukh from Russia, who crossed the line first in London but was later proven to be involved in the Russian doping scandal.

American Lashinda Demus was upgraded to the gold medal while Czech Republic’s Zuzana Hejnova stepped up to the silver medal spot.

Carter told
Jamaica Observer that she spent much of the last few years in regret, as a career that at one time looked destined to deliver multiple major championship medals seemed destined to end without that elusive World Championships or Olympics piece of jewellery.

“I am elated! It was not the way I expected or wanted it to be but it’s still an achievement that I am super grateful for. I am now a bronze medallist, and that will be with me my entire life. My child will be able to say that my mommy is a bronze medallist and I am just grateful, regardless,” Carter said.

“What I have taken from this? Just persevere, never give up. [Through] determination and hard work, no matter what, things will come through,” she added.

The former World Junior champion had developed a reputation for underperforming at major events, not being able to back up her remarkable performance on the Diamond League circuit — which reaped four Diamond trophies, with global podium finishes.

Gold medals in the 400m hurdles at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 400m at the World Indoor Championships in that same year were, until the IOC’s medal reallocation, the highlights of a career that promised more.

Carter relived the emotions of that evening in London and admitted that the medal, which will be handed over to her — thanks to the efforts of Jamaica Olympic Association — during a special ceremony at the foot of the Eiffel Tower during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, has changed her perspective on her time on the track.

“I was actually in great shape at first, and then I think I got injured, and then the championships came. My heat wasn’t so good, my semi wasn’t so great either, but then I pulled it together in the final and, gratefully, I got fourth — and because of what happened I eventually got the bronze medal.

“Crossing the line, I was very disappointed because I was one of the best during the season, and had been for a few years, but I just wasn’t able to get that medal so it was a really sad moment for me, because I had been called: ‘The girl who always finished fourth’. I was branded ‘Kaliese Fourth’ so just the fact that I am getting that bronze medal now, I am really happy,” she added.

“I have had medals but this is the one I wanted. It’s not the colour I wanted it to be but I am grateful that I can hang up my spikes and now know that I am not only an Olympian but also a medallist, and I am very grateful for that,” said Carter.

Looking ahead to the reallocation ceremony which is set for August 9, Carter says she is excited to be sharing the occasion with her family.

“It’s special, and my son will be able to witness that so that’s a moment that I’ll be very happy for. He will be able to see mommy collect that bronze medal — even though it’s 12 years later — but I am still super happy for that,” Carter said.

Carter, who has officially retired, ends her chapter with a personal best of 52.79, which makes her the second-fastest Jamaican behind Melaine Walker (52.42) and the 12th-fastest woman in the world in history.

She is also only the third Jamaican to medal in the event at the Olympic Games, following in the strides of Deon Hemmings who won gold in 1996 (Atlanta) and silver in 2000 (Sydney); and Walker who took gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing.