Shelby Houlihan marked her comeback with a silver medal in the 3,000 meters at the world indoor championships after serving a controversial four-year doping ban. The former record holder's ban stemmed from a positive test linked to a tainted burrito. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed a mix of excitement and grief over her past, highlighting the emotional challenges of her enforced break from competition. Despite the anger she initially felt, Houlihan focused on rebuilding her identity and hopes her success will pave the way for future opportunities in her athletic career.
"It's been a long journey," Houlihan said in an interview with letsrun.com. "I'm excited for today and now, but also kind of grieving the past a bit. It's just been a real tough journey."
Houlihan, whose case was prosecuted by the international Athletics Integrity Unit, received no such leniency and was forced to spend the prime of her career on the sideline.
"Getting used to completely trying to create a new normal," Houlihan said. "Running had been part of my life since I was 5, so who am I without this? I didn't know. [I felt] totally crumbled and trying to rebuild myself back up."
She said "a ton of anger" was driving her at the time, but she realized that was no way to move forward.
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