She Auctioned Her Olympic Medal to Save a Baby’s Life — And What Happened Next Was Even More Beautiful

When Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk stood on the podium at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, silver medal around her neck, she believed she would treasure that moment forever. It was more than a prize — it was the symbol of years of sacrifice, mental battles, brutal training sessions, and an extraordinary comeback after surviving bone cancer and a series of injuries that would have ended most athletic careers.
For Maria, that medal was a reminder that she had fought through every challenge and won.
But just weeks later, she found a challenge greater than anything she faced on the track.

While scrolling through social media, Maria came across a fundraising post for Miłoszek Małysa, an 8-month-old Polish boy born with a severe, rare heart defect. His parents were desperately trying to raise money for a complex, life-saving operation at Stanford University Medical Center in the United States — a surgery that could not be performed in Poland. The cost was staggering: more than 1.5 million PLN (around $380,000 USD) was needed to save the child’s life, and the fundraiser was still far from reaching its goal.
(Reported by ESPN, BBC, NPR)

Maria read the story over and over. She saw the baby’s picture. She saw the fear in the messages from his parents. And she knew one thing:
she could not scroll past this.

So she made an extraordinary decision — one that shocked the sports world and touched millions of people around the globe.

Maria announced that she would auction her Olympic silver medal, giving away the prize she had fought for throughout her entire career.
In her own words, she explained:

“This medal is only a symbol. A human life is priceless.”

Her post spread across Poland within hours. Supporters, sports fans, and even people who had never heard of her before shared her message. Donations surged. Media outlets picked up the story, praising her courage and selflessness.
(AP News, BBC Sport)

Soon, several companies began placing bids. And then one of Poland’s largest convenience-store chains — Żabka Polska — stepped forward with the winning offer: 200,000 PLN, enough to push the fundraiser past its needed amount.

But what happened next made the story even more remarkable.

After transferring the funds to support Miłoszek’s surgery, Żabka made a public announcement:
They refused to keep the medal.
They told Maria that the medal belonged with her — the woman whose heart inspired a country — and returned it to her as a gesture of deep respect.
(ESPN, Emerging Europe, People Magazine)

For Maria, it was never about the medal.
But receiving it back, not as a symbol of athletic victory but as a symbol of human compassion, gave it a deeper meaning than she could have imagined.

Thanks to the combined donations — and Maria’s courageous decision — baby Miłoszek was able to travel to the United States and undergo his life-saving heart operation. Months later, the family shared hopeful updates, expressing gratitude for the kindness of strangers and calling Maria one of the heroes who made their son’s recovery possible.
(Reuters, ESPN)

In the end, the medal that once represented athletic excellence transformed into something far greater. It became a testament to humanity — proof that even in a world often filled with conflict and division, there are moments when people unite to help someone they have never met.

Maria’s story reminds us that true greatness isn't measured only in records, distances, or medals.
Sometimes, it’s measured in compassion.
Sometimes, it’s measured in how much of ourselves we’re willing to give to save another life.

And in this case, a silver medal became a golden act of kindness — one that people around the world will remember for years to come.

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Sources (reputable):
• ESPN – Coverage of Maria’s auction for Miłoszek’s surgery
• BBC Sport – Reports on her decision and public reaction
• NPR – International reporting on the fundraiser
• AP News – Story on Żabka returning the medal
• Reuters – Updates on the child’s surgery and recovery
• People Magazine – Human-interest coverage of the event