From Olympic Queen to Selling Her Gold Medals: The Untold Story of Gymnastics Legend Olga Korbut
Credits: Olga Korbut via World Gymnastics © 1972 / Kishimoto/IOC
Credits: Olga Korbut via World Gymnastics © 1972 / Kishimoto/IOC
While many athletes would give their best to just reach the Olympics, gymnastics icon Olga Korbut once gave her medals a fate that none could have seen coming.
The Belarus-born 4 feet 11 inches gymnast once captivated the world at the 1972 Munich Olympics, winning three golds and a silver at the age of 17. But in 2017, the “Sparrow from Minsk” bade them a farewell.
“Olga Korbut, the Soviet gymnast who charmed the world at the 1972 Munich Olympics, sold her medal haul and other trophies in a US auction,” a 2017 BBC article explained. “The sale of seven lots, including two golds and a silver from the Munich Games, fetched $183,300 (£147,000) for Korbut.”
Olga Korbut at The Olympic Journey at Royal Opera House Olga Korbut at The Olympic Journey at Royal Opera House, London, England.. Russian gold medallist visits Royal Opera House exhibition, a collection of displays telling the story of the history of the Olympic Games. .August 3rd, 2012.full length black sleeveless dress hands arms posing in air .CAP/BF. Bob Fidgeon/. Londond Great Britain Copyright: xBobxFidgeon/CapitalxPicturesx
Olga Korbut at The Olympic Journey at Royal Opera House Olga Korbut at The Olympic Journey at Royal Opera House, London, England.. Russian gold medallist visits Royal Opera House exhibition, a collection of displays telling the story of the history of the Olympic Games. .August 3rd, 2012.full length black sleeveless dress hands arms posing in air .CAP/BF. Bob Fidgeon/. Londond Great Britain Copyright: xBobxFidgeon/CapitalxPicturesx
The most expensive item among her medals was the team gold, which fetched her a grand amount of $66,000. Following this move, several speculations about Korbut’s financial stability began to surface.
The auctioned items also included one of Korbut’s performance leotards, her 1972 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, a number of Soviet medals and a sports magazine cover signed by her exclusively.
But amidst the rising speculations about her financial condition, the legend herself denied the claims, noting a different reason altogether.
Olga Korbut Revealed Why She Sold Her Medals
Russia's Gazeta.ru news was one of those media outlets to accuse Korbut of having financial difficulties, noting that selling the medals “saved her from hunger.” However, the 71-year-old stated something else.
"This is Olympic history, and I would like to share (it) with the whole world," Korbut said in 2017, per NBC News. "They helped to make it history and make it live forever. This is how I wanted to share with the people."
Even the auction house spokesman, Elon Werner, refuted the “financial difficulties” narrative by calling it “100% inaccurate.” However, irrespective of these two narratives, Korbut’s legacy lives on.
With that being said, can you name another Olympian who sold their medals? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy