Emma Wade was 19 years old at the time of the Sydney Olympics, was making her Olympic debut, and would later go on to represent Belize at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. On 23 September, she was drawn into the third heat of the women's 100 meters. She finished the race in 12.25 seconds, which was seventh out of eight competitors in her heat, and Wade was eliminated. In the event overall, the gold medal is vacant due to original gold medalist Marion Jones of the United States admitting to steroid use and forfeiting her medals and results from the Sydney Games. Officially, the medals in the event are held by Ekaterini Thanou of Greece and Tayna Lawrence (the original bronze medalist) of Jamaica sharing silver, and Merlene Ottey, also of Jamaica, the original fourth-place finisher, being awarded a bronze. Gold was left vacant because Thanou, the original silver medalist, had her own issue with missing a drug test at the 2004 Summer Olympics.