A piece of Olympic history, a medal from the very first modern Olympic Games, went under the hammer at the Bruun Rasmussen auction house. Athens had the honor of hosting the Games as we know them in 1896. The winners and all those involved have long since passed, making the preservation and recent auction of such a tangible piece of history truly remarkable. In Denmark, the winner's medal, which was not yet gold at the time, fetched a staggering 154,140 euros.
First Olympic Games
The auction house cannot verify the original owner of the auctioned medal. A total of 241 athletes from 14 countries participated in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Denmark itself was represented, with Viggo Jensen becoming the first-ever Olympic champion in weightlifting. The medal has been authenticated, and its shield depicts the Greek god Zeus alongside Nike, the goddess of victory. The reverse side features the Acropolis and the Parthenon.
'Absolutely thrilled'
"We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome of this auction," stated Christian Grundtvig, head of the auction house's Danish department. The medal was initially expected to fetch less than 50,000 euros, so the final price of over 150,000 euros far exceeded expectations. "The Olympic medal is a rare collector's item. This is a piece of history and memorabilia that will gain worldwide recognition. It is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary auctions this house has ever experienced."
Medals
Since then, the world has witnessed dozens of Olympic Games, and hundreds of athletes have been awarded various medals. Often, there's criticism regarding their craftsmanship, with winners frequently complaining about the poor quality of the medals shortly after their ceremonies. Jutta Leerdam, for instance, the Dutch top speed skater, won silver and gold at the Winter Olympics in Milan in February and quickly found scratches on her medals.