The phrase "Olympic hero" gets thrown around a lot during the month of The Games but none of the gold medalists from Rio are likely to measure up to Polish discus thrower Piotr Malachowski who landed a silver medal but has now sold it.
Malachowski secured his second Olympic silver medal, having also finished second at the Beijing games eight years ago, finishing 82 cm behind the winner. However the 33 year old wasn't winning the medal for himself but fellow Pole, three-year-old Olek Szymanski.
The youngster has been diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer that affects young children, and selling his medal means that Malachowski's donation has sent Olek to New York to have treatment.
Writing on Facebook the Olympian said: "My silver medal is worth a lot more than a week ago. It is worth the health of little Olek. We were able to show that together we can do wonders. It is our great shared success."
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In a first post advertising that he was selling the medal the Pole said, "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. If you help me, my silver can be more precious than gold."
Athletes work hard their whole lives to capture Olympic gold but Piotr has allowed one young kid to fight to live a much longer life. Not all heroes wear capes!
Well played and all the luck to Olek!
(Via Independent)
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