Athletics: I will never forgive Ostapchuk - Adams

AAP

25 Jul, 2013 06:51 PM2 mins to read

The medal ceremony at the Cloud, on Auckland's waterfront, was the first time an Olympic gold medal had been presented in New Zealand. Arms shot into the air under the rolling blue canopy of the Cloud. "Now I know, I can believe 100 per cent, that I am the Olympic champion," said Valerie Adams, New Zealand's belated gold medallist for winning the shot put at the London 2012 Olympic Games. "This is more than I expected," Adams said pulling out a tissue from her pocket as her eyes flushed red. She thanked New Zealand "for your love and support". "I do this for you, and I do this for our country."

Shot putter Valerie Adams is in no mood to forgive and forget as she returns to London's Olympic stadium a year after being cheated of her chance to receive gold in front of thousands of fans.

Belarusian Nadzeya Ostapchuk stood on the top step of the podium at the 2012 Games but was later stripped of gold after testing positive for anabolic steroids.

Adams was then elevated to first place after initially being awarded the silver medal.

The 28-year-old was fired up on ahead of the Diamond League Anniversary Games.

"The plan on Saturday is to win and feel the glory and the moment at the time,'' Adams told reporters in London.

"It's definitely not the same thing (as the Olympics) but I'm just glad to come to London and compete in the Olympic stadium.''

Asked how she felt towards Ostapchuk a year on, the New Zealander didn't hold back.

The dual Olympic champion and triple world champion said she was "really, really angry towards her''.

"I was quite sad and depressed,'' the athlete said.

"A lot of emotions went through me but I think one thing is I never forgave her and I never will.

"She's tainted the sport, she's tainted our event and it's something she shouldn't have done.

"The worst thing about it for me was she took the moment away. That's probably what hurts the most.''

Adams said at the Olympics she was crying tears of disappointment for her country, her coach and herself while Ostapchuk - "this thing'' - was celebrating a victory that wasn't rightly hers.

"No sympathy whatsoever.

"She can stay in Belarus forever.''

- AAP