Piotr Malachowski sells his medal because he wants to save the life of a young child, and the story has people talking. Moreover, he became a real-life hero to folks all over the world while at it.
Mr. Malachowski is a Polish discus thrower, who picked up a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil. The 33-year-old won his second Olympic medal, finishing 82cm adrift of Germany’s Christoph Harting.
The athlete was also a silver medalist at the 2008 Summer games. His personal best throw is 71.84 meters, and he ranks fifth in all-time longest discus throw distances. This was achieved on June 8, 2013 at Hengelo in the Netherlands. However, he ranks number one in the hearts of thousands of people for his kindness.
This week, via Facebook, Malachowski announced that he had set up an auction where he would sell his medal and use the money to help Olek Szymanski, a three-year-old boy in need of eye cancer treatment. Szymanski is battling retinoblastoma – an eye cancer affecting young children.
The money collected will also pay for the child’s trip to New York. Malachowski stated:
“Win An Olympic Medal for an athlete’s life fulfilling dreams. Of course this is the most precious gold. I did everything in my power to get it. Unfortunately this time it didn’t work. But fate gave me a chance to increase the value of my “Silver”. Just after the competition has written to me, my mom little gosia, I’m asking for help in rescuing her little boy. Olek for almost two years, more than half her life battling cancer an eyeball. Retinoblastoma is malignant cancer of the eye, which exists only in children under the age of 5, specially like choosing the weakest. Poland doesn’t stand a chance of saving I mesh. Only chance is therapy in New York.
I decided to help and give olkowi won medal in Rio for the bidding. Whole bid amount will be earmarked for treatment. I encourage all people of goodwill to pay money into your account, send text messages and help in every way possible. Let’s help the parents and family #ocalicokoolka. In Rio. I fought for the gold. Today I appeal to everyone – let’s fight together about something that is even more precious. The Health of this fantastic boy. So you are all invited to the auction: http://bit.ly/2b41eXH. If you help me, my silver for I can be more precious than gold.”
The auction was a huge success. On his Facebook page, Małachowski was thrilled to announce that Polish siblings – Dominika and Sebastian Kulczyk – bought the medal. Dominika and Sebastian Kulczyk are worth more than $3.4 billion. He thanked everyone for their kind words and for taking part in the auction. Roughly translated, Malchowski said:
My darlings
We made it. Dominic and Sebastian Kulczyk just wanting to redeem themselves in my silver medal for the amount that allows you to complete the collection. And it mattered to me the most. Thus concludes the bidding and the medal goes to the dominica and Sebastian Kulczyków.
Thank you everyone who took part in the auction on Ebay and everyone who in any way to join the action #ocalicokoolka. We were able to show that together we can make miracles. My Silver Medal today is worth much more than a week ago. Life is worth little olusia and health. This is our big joint success.
Online commenters have found a modern-day hero.
