Final week, Dutch sprinter Eugene Omalla made headlines after itemizing his Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal from the 4x400m combined relay for public sale. The transfer stunned many, together with his relay teammates, who have been unaware of his determination. On Monday, Omalla addressed the response and clarified his motivation behind the sale in a message shared on social media.
Waarom veilt Eugene Omalla zijn Olympische 🥇 medaille ? pic.twitter.com/KffUICPlOL
— Atletiek Stay (@AtletiekLive) Might 12, 2025
In a press release posted to his Instagram story, Omalla mentioned the medal will at all times characterize one of many biggest achievements of his profession. “This medal is a tangible image of all that work, of all of the individuals who helped me alongside the best way, and of the ability of desires that come true,” he wrote.
He defined how his determination to public sale the medal had been misinterpreted within the media. “I perceive that my determination to public sale the medal has come throughout to some as an indication of greed or disrespect. That’s the reason I wish to take this plunge: it isn’t about monetary issues, it isn’t meant to counterpoint myself.”
Omalla mentioned the proceeds from the public sale will assist his mother and father’ charity, Youngster’s Future of Hope (CDHope), which offers healthcare and schooling for youngsters in Uganda. He added {that a} portion of the funds can even go to supporting his household, who, he says, “sacrificed every thing” to assist him pursue his Olympic dream.
“I noticed I ought to have communicated this to my teammates, employees, and anybody else who felt damage sooner,” Omalla mentioned. “Thanks to your understanding.”
Omalla, 24, was born within the Netherlands however spent a lot of his childhood in Uganda after transferring there together with his household at seven. In 2019, he moved to america to run collegiate observe and area for Kansas State College.
Omalla received his Olympic gold alongside teammates Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink and Femke Bol, who delivered a legendary anchor leg efficiency, surging from fourth to first within the last 200m to win the Netherlands’ first athletics gold of the Paris Video games. The nation’s second got here later within the ladies’s marathon, received by distance star Sifan Hassan.
The medal is at the moment listed with Texas-based collectibles large Heritage Auctions, the place bidding has already reached C$46,000. The public sale is open till Tuesday, Might 13, at 8 p.m. ET, and Heritage estimates it might fetch as a lot as US$80,000 (C$110,000), whereas taking a 10-15 per cent fee price off the ultimate bidding quantity.
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