Two Polish Olympians Sold Their Silver Medals to Save Dying Children

Sometimes the world shows you exactly what humans are capable of.

In 2016, Polish Olympian Piotr Małachowski had just won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. He trained his entire life for that moment.

And then he found out about a 3-year-old boy named Olek. A little boy fighting a rare eye cancer, needing surgery in New York that his family couldn’t afford. So Piotr auctioned his medal.

He said, “In Rio I fought for gold. Today I appeal to everyone. Let’s fight together for something even more precious: the health of this fantastic boy.” Olek got his surgery. His eyesight was saved.

Then in 2021, Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk won silver at the Tokyo Olympics. She was a bone cancer survivor herself. She found out about an 8-month-old baby named Miłoszek who needed urgent heart surgery in the United States that his family couldn’t afford. So she auctioned her medal too.

She said, “This silver can save lives instead of collecting dust in a closet.” Miłoszek got his surgery. He survived. Two athletes. Two medals. Two children who are alive today because of it. I don’t know what you’re going through right now. But I hope this reminds you that there is still so much goodness here.

There are still people walking this earth who choose a child’s life over their greatest achievement.

That is the kind of human you are surrounded by, that is the kind of human you are capable of being, too. The world is good. People are good. Hold on to that this weekend.