Dutch sprinter responds to critics after auctioning Paris Olympic gold medal

Last week, Dutch sprinter Eugene Omalla made headlines after listing his Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal from the 4x400m mixed relay for auction. The move surprised many, including his relay teammates, who were unaware of his decision. On Monday, Omalla addressed the reaction 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 Live (@AtletiekLive) May 12, 2025

In a statement posted to his Instagram story, Omalla said the medal will always represent one of the greatest achievements of his career. “This medal is a tangible symbol of all that work, of all the people who helped me along the way, and of the power of dreams that come true,” he wrote.

He explained how his decision to auction the medal had been misinterpreted in the media. “I understand that my decision to auction the medal has come across to some as a sign of greed or disrespect. That is why I want to take this plunge: it is not about financial problems, it is not intended to enrich myself.”

Paris Olympic relay gold medal listed for auction

Omalla said the proceeds from the auction will support his parents’ charity, Child’s Destiny of Hope (CDHope), which provides healthcare and education for children in Uganda. He added that a portion of the funds will also go to supporting his family, who, he says, “sacrificed everything” to help him pursue his Olympic dream.

“I realized I should have communicated this to my teammates, staff, and anyone else who felt hurt sooner,” Omalla said. “Thank you for your understanding.”

Omalla, 24, was born in the Netherlands but spent much of his childhood in Uganda after moving there with his family at seven. In 2019, he moved to the United States to run collegiate track and field for Kansas State University.

Omalla won his Olympic gold alongside teammates Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink and Femke Bol, who delivered a legendary anchor leg performance, surging from fourth to first in the final 200m to win the Netherlands’ first athletics gold of the Paris Games. The country’s second came later in the women’s marathon, won by distance star Sifan Hassan.

The medal is currently listed with Texas-based collectibles giant Heritage Auctions, where bidding has already reached C$46,000. The auction is open until Tuesday, May 13, at 8 p.m. ET, and Heritage estimates it could fetch as much as US$80,000 (C$110,000), while taking a 10-15 per cent commission fee off the final bidding amount.