Olympian Maria Andrejczyk Auctions Her Silver Medal to Help Save Infant’s Life

On August 7, 2021, Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk stood on the Olympic podium in Tokyo, claiming the first Olympic medal of her career. The silver medal represented a comeback that had taken years to build. After missing the podium by just two centimeters at the 2016 Rio Games, then enduring a devastating shoulder injury and a diagnosis of osteosarcoma in 2018, her return to elite form was widely regarded as remarkable.

Andrejczyk resumed training after cancer treatment and soon reclaimed her spot among the world’s best. In 2021 she set a new Polish record of 71.40 meters, the third-longest throw in women’s javelin history. Her silver-winning throw of 64.61 meters in Tokyo was seen as the culmination of her recovery and resilience.

One week later, she announced her decision to auction the medal.

Scrolling through social media, Andrejczyk saw a fundraiser for eight-month-old Miłoszek Małysa, a child with a severe congenital heart defect. His family had exhausted treatment options in Poland and needed roughly 1.5 million zloty for a life-saving operation at Stanford University Medical Center in the United States. Donations had already been boosted by funds passed on by the parents of another child who had died before receiving treatment.

Moved by the story, Andrejczyk offered the silver medal to help close the remaining funding gap. In a public statement, she said the medal had great symbolic meaning for her but could have far greater value for a child in need.

The auction drew widespread attention and support. On August 16, the winning bid came from Żabka, a major Polish convenience store chain, which offered the equivalent of $125,000, enough to fully fund the remaining costs of the surgery.

Shortly afterward, Żabka announced that while it would contribute the full donation, it would return the medal to Andrejczyk, calling her gesture “beautiful and extremely noble.” The company stated that the athlete deserved to keep the symbol of her perseverance and achievement.

Andrejczyk responded that the true worth of a medal lies in the meaning it carries and the good it can do for others. She emphasized that her decision was not extraordinary but simply the most meaningful choice she could make.

The story spread quickly across international media and social networks, drawing praise for both the athlete’s generosity and the donors’ response. For many observers, Andrejczyk’s act underscored a broader definition of victory—one measured not by athletic results but by impact on others.

Seven days after winning silver in Tokyo, Andrejczyk earned a different kind of recognition, demonstrating that the greatest achievements often happen far from the field of competition.