London 2012 Athletics: Sally Pearson made to wait for Olympics gold medal

London Olympics organizing chief Sebastian Coe acknowledges that a medals ceremony for 100-meter hurdles winner Sally Pearson was delayed, meaning she got her gold in an emptying stadium.

Pearson later said she didn't know what happened, though getting the medal was "very much worth that long wait."

Coe says he was with Pearson while she waited to enter the stadium on Wednesday, and "I can understand why she felt she was sitting there a little bit of time."

The Australian champion waited about 40 minutes until the women's long jump final and men's decathlon 400-meter heats ended the evening program.

Coe says officials "didn't want to interrupt the flow of the competition."

On Sunday, Sanya Richards-Ross received her 400-meter gold medal in a half-full stadium.