Now itB次元官网网址檚 official B次元官网网址� Christine Girard is an Olympic champion.

The retired B.C. weightlifter, who lives in South Surrey, learned this week from the International Olympic Committee that her bronze medal from the 2012 Summer Olympics B次元官网网址� in the womenB次元官网网址檚 63-kg competition B次元官网网址� is now officially upgraded to gold.

The gold and silver medallists B次元官网网址� KazakhstanB次元官网网址檚 Maiya Maneza and RussiaB次元官网网址檚 Svetlana Tsurukaeva, respectively B次元官网网址� were discovered to have tested positive for banned substances, with Maneza being stripped of her medal in the , and Tsurukeva in April of last year, leaving Girard as the only clean athlete left from the original trio of podium finishes.

It's now official! I can call myself an Olympic Champion! :)

B次元官网网址� Christine Girard (@ch_girard)

Girard first heard the podium boost was last spring B次元官网网址� days after Tsurukeva was stripped of silver B次元官网网址� but did not hear official word from the IOC until earlier this week. The decision was announced officially Thursday morning.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just so thrilled itB次元官网网址檚 finally official,B次元官网网址� Girard told Black Press.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the last step in a long journey B次元官网网址� this all started two years ago. WeB次元官网网址檙e really happy this moment is finally here.B次元官网网址�

The next step for Girard B次元官网网址� and the Canadian Olympic Committee B次元官网网址� is to organize some type of medal ceremony, and offiially get the gold into GirardB次元官网网址檚 hands. Girard still doesnB次元官网网址檛 have the bronze medal she is owed from the 2008 Olympics B次元官网网址� in which she finished fourth, but was bumped to third due to another doping sanction after the fact B次元官网网址� and said she will recieve both medals at the upcoming ceremony.

In 2012, GirardB次元官网网址檚 bronze-medal win was a watershed moment for Canadian weightlifting B次元官网网址� she was the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal. Now, she is also CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first two-time medallist in the sport.

B次元官网网址淐ongratulations to Christine for this spectacular achievement. She is a weightlifting trailblazer in so many ways and we are extremely proud of her,B次元官网网址� Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith said in a news release.

B次元官网网址淐hristine has always lived the values of sport and of competing clean. We are so pleased to see her finally receive the Olympic gold medal which she has so rightfully earned.B次元官网网址�

When speaking to Black Press last year about the failed drug tests of her two competitors, Girard said she was thrilled to be in line for a gold medal, but did feel cheated, in a sense, because she did not get to celebrate the win in the moment, at the 2012 Games.

Now, however, sheB次元官网网址檚 excited to have her own ceremony, which she expects to happen B次元官网网址渟ometime later this year.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his way, IB次元官网网址檒l get to share the moment with more people from here, so thatB次元官网网址檚 good, too,B次元官网网址� she said.

As well, Girard B次元官网网址� who is originally from Rouyn-Noranda, Que. said she hopes the new ceremony will further help bring attention to the anti-doping cause B次元官网网址� which is something she feels strongly about.

B次元官网网址淚 think having my medal later gives a stronger messageB次元官网网址� even though I didnt have that moment in London,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭his is a win for (clean) athletes, a win for our country and a win for our values. IB次元官网网址檓 pretty happy about that.B次元官网网址�