Shannon Rowbury’s Upgrade to a 2012 Olympic 1500m Bronze Medal, and Grand Slam Track postponing its Los Angeles Meet to Focus on a 2026 Global Expansion…

Shannon Rowbury’s Upgrade to a 2012 Olympic 1500m Bronze Medal, and Grand Slam Track postponing its Los Angeles Meet to Focus on a 2026 Global Expansion

 

Twelve years after crossing the finish line in sixth place at the London 2012 Olympics, American middle-distance runner Shannon Rowbury has officially been upgraded to a bronze medal in the women’s 1500 meters. The announcement comes as fallout from one of the most drug-tainted races in Olympic history, coinciding with turbulence in the modern professional track scene, as Grand Slam Track cancels its planned Los Angeles event to refocus efforts on a 2026 global relaunch.

Rowbury’s medal reallocation follows the disqualification of Russian athlete Tatyana Tomashova, whose results from 2012 to 2015 were voided due to doping violations. Tomashova joins a long list of banned athletes from the 2012 women’s 1500m final, including Turkey’s Aslı Çakır Alptekin and Gamze Bulut—originally the gold and silver medalists. Rowbury, who finished as the top American in sixth, has now been elevated to bronze by the International Olympic Committee.

“I’ve waited over a decade to feel this moment,” Rowbury said in a statement. “There’s a sense of closure, pride, and heartbreak all at once. I hope to stand on a podium one day and receive the medal I earned.”

Rowbury becomes only the second U.S. woman to win an Olympic medal in the 1500m, joining Jenny Simpson, who earned bronze in Rio 2016. The official recognition highlights the long-standing struggle for clean athletes to receive justice in a sport marred by systemic doping.

While Rowbury receives long-overdue recognition, the present-day state of professional track and field remains in flux. Grand Slam Track (GST), the upstart league founded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, announced last week that it is canceling its highly anticipated Los Angeles Slam meet, which had been scheduled for late June.

The decision follows disappointing attendance and commercial performance at the league’s inaugural meets in Kingston, Miami, and Philadelphia. GST leadership cited financial constraints and strategic realignment in choosing to halt the 2025 season and prioritize a 2026 relaunch with a global focus.

“We want to build something sustainable,” GST CEO John Regis said in a statement. “Postponing Los Angeles allows us to invest in a stronger, international calendar next year that reflects the sport’s global fanbase.”

The cancellation saves an estimated $3 million, but also leaves uncertainty for dozens of unpaid athletes and staff. Reports indicate GST still owes competitors approximately $13 million in appearance fees and prize money, sparking criticism from athletes and agents across the sport.

Despite the setback, GST maintains Los Angeles remains a key market for future meets and says it is working to resolve financial obligations ahead of its expanded 2026 rollout.

The juxtaposition of Rowbury’s belated triumph and GST’s growing pains reflects both the enduring appeal and persistent challenges of track and field. As one athlete receives long-overdue justice, the sport grapples with building a sustainable professional future.