Winning an Olympic medal is a crowning achievement for any athlete. But how important is the actual medal itself? For some Olympians who find themselves in financial trouble, their prized medals are quick sources of cash. Does that diminish their achievement or lessen their performance in front of the eyes of the world?
Olga Korbut, a top Soviet gymnast in the 1970s, is the latest athlete to auction off her medals. She has recently sold a trove of medals including two gold and one silver from the 1972 Munich Games for over $180,000 (Dh673,000) through a company that specialised in selling in sports memorabilia. While some have been critical of the sale, nothing can change Korbut’s place in the Olympic history books. The medal is, after all, merely a physical reminder of her performance. Its ownership has no bearing on sports history. If someone’s life is enriched by owning a piece of Olympic lore, they should be free to purchase the medals.
