Former Illini Chantelle Groenewoud Awarded Gold Medal
November 5, 2020 | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
RICHMOND HILL, Ont. -- Former Illinois cross country and track & field athlete Chantelle Groenewoud has been awarded a gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the Kazan 2013 FISU Summer Universiade after doping sanctions were recently handed down by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) to all three original medalists.
Groenewoud now shares the podium with former University of Nebraska track & field athlete, Jessica Furlan. This is the first time a pair of Canadian student-athletes have shared the top two spots on the podium in FISU athletics competition. The duo originally finished the event in fourth and fifth, respectively, with Groenwoud clocking in at 9:51.17, and Furlan following just six one-hundredths of a second behind – both setting personal bests in the process.
"There's no one else I'd rather share a podium with than Jessica," said Groenewoud. "It took me back to all those amazing emotions – Jess and I were both so excited in the moment already with fourth and fifth. (Knowing) that we could have been first or second, it's a whole other ballgame. I'm feeling a little nostalgic for that time period."
Groenewoud, a runner for the Illini from 2007-11, was initially promoted to the bronze medal following a doping infraction announced in July of 2018. The North Vancouver, B.C., native now becomes the FISU champion, nine years after her first appearance in the steeplechase event, where she placed eighth at the Shenzhen 2011 Summer Universiade in China.
"We are immensely proud of Chantelle and Jessica for their performance in Kazan," said U SPORTS Interim CEO Dick White. "Canada applauds the essential work of both FISU and World Athletics for their diligence in upholding the integrity of clean sport and ensuring our student-athletes received their rightful recognition."
