SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO-AM) Derek Miles is finally getting an olympic medal.
Miles was just shy of taking home a medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, finishing fourth to Ukranian Denys Yurchenko. However, the International Olympic Committee launched retests looking for the use of banned substances resulting in medals being stripped from a number of athletes, including Yurchenko.
The bronze medal is now Miles to keep.
Miles is a three-time Olympian who competed in 2004,2008, and 2012. He also represented the United States on six world championship teams and is a three time U.S national champion.
Miles has spent the last 14 years with the track and field program at USD, helping the program to become one of the premiere vault programs in the nation.
Miles was inducted to the Henry Hieder Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and the USTFCCCA (U.S Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) Division II Hall of Fame in 2013. He along with other members of Team USA recieving reallocated medals will be honored at the 2017 U.S Olympic & Paralympic Assembly in Colorado Springs, Colorado October 12-13.
A ceremony for Miles will be held Monday at 10AM in the DakotaDome Club inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. South Dakota Senator John Thune, as well as U.S Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun will be there to present the medal to Miles.
