Four-time time trial world champion Tony Martin surprisingly got his Olympic medal back after the auction in favour of the victims of the war in Ukraine.
A company bought the Olympic silver medal from London 2012 at auction for 31,100 euros and added 3900 euros - and returned the precious metal to the 36-year-old former professional cyclist. "They gave me the medal back home. I can hardly believe it," said Martin according to the Bild newspaper.
Torsten Weber, General Manager of auction winner Fitline, commented: "We have the greatest respect for Tony Martin's commitment to children in Ukraine. For us it was a matter of course to give him his medal back, because that's where it belongs." Martin said he was also "totally surprised" by the increase in the amount from 31,100 to 35,000 euros.
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