Shalane Flanagan Receives Her Silver Medal Upgrade from 2008 Olympic 10,000 Meters

By Adam Kopet

USATF announced in a press release Monday that Shalane Flanagan has received her upgraded silver medal from the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Flanagan originally finished third in the race, behind Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia and Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey. She set an American record of 30:22.22, a time that stood until Molly Huddle broke it in the 2016 Olympics.

Flanagan's silver medal was awarded after Abeylegesse was suspended for doping. She celebrated at home, posting videos to her Twitter account.

USOC tried to arrange for a formal ceremony for Flanagan, but the four-time Olympian opted for a private ceremony at home.

"I greatly appreciate the USOC’s efforts to host a more formal medal ceremony in my honor, but with my coach and my family, I have decided to forego that option and instead celebrate in private," Flanagan said in the press release.

Flanagan is now the highest-placing American in the Olympic women's 10,000. She had previously tied Lynn Jennings, who earned bronze in 1992.