Maria Andrejczyk, a 25-year-old javelin thrower, sold her gold to benefit 8-month-old Mioszek Maysa, who has severe cardiac problems. One of the sweetest Olympic moments.
After winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Summer Games, the 25-year-old stated on Facebook that she wanted to raise $190,000 for 8-month-old Polish kid Miloszek Maysa, who needed life-saving surgery in the US.
“Miloszek has a significant cardiac condition and requires surgery,” she wrote Aug. 11. “He has an advantage over Kubus, a youngster who didn’t make it in time but whose nice parents gave him the money they raised.”
She added, “In this way, I’d like to participate as well. He’s auctioning my Olympic silver medal.”
Andrejczyk’s kindness has impressed. Social media users called the athlete “a real-life heroine” for sacrificing her gold for a worthy cause.
The javelin thrower announced on Monday that Polish convenience retailer Zabka won the auction.
“We won the auction!” remarked the Olympian. “I received this wonderful information on Friday, and because You dears have already accomplished wonders, and the joint forces have contributed more than the initial medal to the Mi ooszka account, I decided to stop the auction so that our Mi oosz can receive the entire amount as soon as possible and fly to the United States.”
Andrejczyk
“I hope it will serve as a symbol for you of the life we fought for together,” she wrote.
Zabka tweeted shortly after her statement that they truly want Andrejczyk to keep her special hardware.
“We were impressed by our Olympian’s lovely and highly honorable gesture. Therefore we decided to sponsor the Mioszek campaign,” the company tweeted.
“We’re staying with Maria in Tokyo!” We admire [Andrejczyk] and appreciate the chance to help.”
Maysa’s family has set up a fundraising page with the aim of 1.5 million Polish zloty to raise money for the child’s surgery. Because of the difficult nature of the case, many European hospitals have declined to operate on the baby. The child’s family is hoping that he or she will be able to receive treatment at Stanford University Medical Center.