After spending years in training, discus thrower Piotr Malachowski of Poland won the silver medal at the recently concluded 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When he arrived back in his home country, he would soon become a real superhero to a young boy battling cancer.
The mother of 3-year-old Olek Szymanski wrote to Malachowski, asking any assistance for the boy’s fatal condition.
Photo credit: Piotr Małachowski / Facebook
According to the woman, the boy suffers from retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer. They are running out of options but are hoping that the boy could be brought to the top ophthalmologists in New York, USA. For that, they would need around $126,000 (Php5.8 million).
Deciding that he could be this boy’s champion, the Malachowski auctioned off his silver medal to raise funds for the boy! He called on his supporters and fans to help raise funds for the boy, revealing that the life-saving treatment was not available in Poland.
“In Rio I fought for gold. Today, I appeal to everyone — let’s fight together about something that is even more precious. The health of this fantastic boy,” he wrote in Polish. “If you help me, my silver may be more valuable than gold for Olek.”
Polish charity foundation Siepomaga was quickly able to raise a third of the cost for Szymanski’s treatment. More people pitched in to help but Malachowski canceled the auction after billionaires Dominika and Sebastian Kulczyk pledged to remaining amount for the boy’s treatment in exchange for the medal.
Indeed, Malachowski’s silver medal became more valuable than gold – and he proved to everyone that he has the heart of a true champion!
What is a Discus?
A discus is “a heavy thick-centered disk thrown by an athlete” in sporting events. The discus throw is an event in track and field.