From the 1896 Olympic medals to Jesse Owens' gold medal, these are some of the most expensive Olympic medals ever sold at auction.
Being an Olympian is undoubtedly an achievement in itself. Representing your country on the world stage alongside other athletes means you're the best. Just participating in the Olympics is already a huge honor. But while being an Olympian is great, the ultimate goal is to stand on the coveted podium to win a medal, preferably a gold medal, that is a testament to your athletic achievement. Over the years, there have been medals that have been auctioned for various reasons. This list features the five most expensive Olympic medals ever sold, four of which are gold and one is silver.
The most expensive Olympic gold medal ever sold
Ivan Pedroso's medal at Sydney 2000 (US$71,335)
Image courtesy of RR Auction
Cuban long jumper Ivan Pedroso has a very impressive record. The Havana native has pretty consistently won gold medals in every event he has competed in. He was also supposed to break the world record, although the results were not ratified due to issues. It was not surprising when Pedroso competed for Cuba at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and won a gold medal. But what was surprising was that this was his only Olympic podium. The medal bearing his name and the name of his sport was auctioned in 2021.
Leulis Pupo's medal from the London 2012 Olympics (US$73,200)
Image courtesy of RR Auction
Leurys Pupo is a Cuban shooter who competed in the Olympic Games for the first time in Sydney in 2000. Pupo competed in the men's 25m rapid-fire event and finished in 9th place. He then competed in the Athens Games in 2004 and the Beijing Games in 2008, but unfortunately failed to reach the podium. At the London Games in 2012, Pupo finally broke his losing streak. Not only did he finally make it to the podium, but he also came in first place and finally won an Olympic medal, a gold medal at that. Pupo's medal was auctioned off in 2021 and sold for the aforementioned price.
Silver medal from the 1896 Athens Games ($180,000)
Image courtesy of RR Auction
The truly rare silver medal is one of many handed out at the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896. The medal features a painting of Zeus embracing the goddess Nike, and on the other side is a view of the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens. But why a silver medal? No gold medals were handed out at the 1896 Olympics; first place was awarded silver, second place bronze. Unfortunately, third place received nothing. This medal sold for the exorbitant amount mentioned above, but considering its history, it's well worth it.
Wladimir Klitschko's medal from Atlanta 1996 ($1 million)
Image courtesy of OLYMPIC
Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko rose to world fame when he represented Ukraine in the super heavyweight boxing competition at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Klitschko won the gold medal after defeating Tongan boxer Paea Wolfgramm. Sixteen years later, Klitschko and his brother held a charity auction for their foundation, and the medal was one of the items on offer. It was purchased for $1 million, but the buyer returned it to Klitschko so that he would keep it.
Jesse Owens' medal from the 1936 Berlin Olympics ($1.4 million)
Image courtesy of OLYMPIC
Perhaps the most famous medal in the auction belongs to the most famous Olympian, who won at the most infamous Olympics. Berlin was the host city of the 1936 Olympics. If you're a history buff, you'll know that Germany was still under Nazi control at the time. In fact, Adolf Hitler wanted the Olympics to be a showcase for Aryan superiority, providing incontrovertible proof that his racist comments were true.
Of course, that record was beaten in spectacular fashion by iconic African-American athlete Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the games, the most of any athlete that year. Despite Hitler's hopes that the Olympics would demonstrate white supremacy, Owens' four podium finishes shattered them. The medal that was up for auction was one of those four, and given its history, it may have been purchased at a fairly low price.
(Main and feature images: Frank Fife/AFP)
The information in this article is accurate as of the publication date.
