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The astonishing reason Olympians are returning their Paris medals

<p>More than 100 medal-winning Olympic athletes are returning the medals they won at the 2024 Paris Games after claiming they have massively deteriorated. </p> <p>Despite being less than six months on from the Games, many of the medals have lost their lustre and appear much worse for wear, prompting many athletes to turn in the medals for a replacement. </p> <p>One such medallist is Aussie  BMX bronze medallist Natalya Diehm, who took to social media almost immediately after the Games to show just how tarnished the medal had become in a short period of time. </p> <p>“So once I won bronze, I had so many people ask to see a photo of it or that I should post a video on my stories so that everybody could see it and I didn’t because this literally started to happen day one of me having the medal and I guess I just wanted to keep it quiet for a little,” Diehm said in a video in October. </p> <p>“It’s unfortunate because the original bronze colour is so pretty."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA12gnkPrrL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA12gnkPrrL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Natalya Diehm OLY (@_natalyadiehm)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I’m not sure why this has happened to mine. I haven’t taken it out partying, it’s not from people touching it so much because this is a comparison to what a bronze medal should look like."</p> <p>“Mine is one of the worst to come out of the Olympics this year. I’m hoping I can get it fixed or replaced. But this is it up and close.”</p> <p><em>Nine News</em> reported that at least six more Aussie athletes aren't happy with the state of their medals, with French website <a title="www.lalettre.fr" href="https://www.lalettre.fr/fr/action-publique_operateurs-de-l-etat/2025/01/13/comment-la-monnaie-de-paris-est-tombee-du-podium-avec-ses-medailles-olympiques,110359982-gel"><em>La Lettre</em> </a>finding that there have been more than 100 replacement requests from Olympic and Paralympic athletes from across the world. </p> <p>The International Olympic Committee (IOC) told <em>AFP</em> that the damaged medals are set to be replaced with identical models. </p> <p>“The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris (the French state mint), the institution responsible for the manufacture and quality control of the medals, to assess any complaints about the medals and to understand the circumstances and cause of any damage,” the IOC said.</p> <p>“Defective medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris and engraved identically. The replacement process should begin in the coming weeks.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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"I am a woman": Boxer launches legal action after gold medal win

<p>Imane Khelif has filed an official complaint over online bullying and harassment she has been subject to throughout the course of the Paris Olympics.</p> <p>The Algerian boxer, who took home the gold medal in the women's competition, has been at the centre of a wave of abuse over her gender, with misinformation circulating over her gender. </p> <p>According to Khelif's lawyer Nabil Boudi, the gold medallist has filed a legal complaint in France for online harassment.</p> <p>“The boxer Imane Khelif has decided to begin a new fight, a fight for justice, dignity and honour,” Boudi said in a statement, saying Khelif had filed the complaint for “aggravated online harassment … to Paris prosecutors”.</p> <p>He added, “The investigation will determine who was behind this misogynist, racist and sexist campaign, but will also have to concern itself with those who fed the online lynching.”</p> <p>The “iniquitous harassment” the boxing champion had been subjected to would remain “the biggest stain on these Olympic Games”, said Boudi.</p> <p>On Saturday, Khelif emerged victorious in the women’s 66kg final against China’s Yang Liu in a unanimous points decision, having been the focus of intense scrutiny in the French capital for the duration of the Games. </p> <p>After her victory, Khelif said the gold medal she had won was the best response to her critics.</p> <p>Asked by reporters about the row over her eligibility, she said, “I am fully qualified to take part, I am a woman like any other. I was born a woman, lived a woman and competed as a woman.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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Country boycotts Paris Games after being stripped of medal

<p>The prime minister of Romania has vowed to boycott the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics over what he described as “flagrant injustice” to two of the country’s gymnasts.</p> <p>Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has called out the "scandalous situation" surrounding Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea, who both missed out on medals after the women's floor routines. </p> <p>Barbosu was initially believed to have won bronze and was beginning to celebrate the win, when the judges then adjusted the difficulty of American gymnast Jordan Chiles' routine, bumping her up into third place and sending the Romanian gymnasts into fourth and fifth position. </p> <p>The president of the country’s gymnastics federation Carmencita Constantin told AFP she would file two complaints to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after both Romanian gymnasts left the competition in tears.</p> <p>Voinea, 17, who filed an unsuccessful appeal of her own, complained she had been unfairly penalised.</p> <p>Fellow Romanian gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci chimed in on the controversy, urging a review of Voinea’s routine, after she claimed the athlete didn’t step outside the floor surface, an act she had been punished for.</p> <p>It comes as heartbreaking new footage of Barbosu’s medal being taken away emerged, after the final scores were updated and resulted in her coming in fourth place. </p> <p>As a result, the Romanian gymnastics team, who qualified for the first time in 12 years, left Paris without a medal after coming in seventh in the team competition.</p> <p>Prime Minister Ciolacu shared his upset over the loss, saying the athletes were treated "dishonourably" and would be boycotting the closing ceremony in protest. </p> <p>“I have decided not to attend the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics after the scandalous situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonourable way,” he wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>Romania also sent a letter of protest to the International Gymnastics Federation, after it was revealed that Voinea has now quit gymnastics after the dramatic Olympics loss. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Daniela Porcelli/SPP/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

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“Outrageous”: Silver medal stripped after illegal act

<p>The women's 5,000m final has ended in controversy after the second place holder was stripped of her medal and disqualified. </p> <p>Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet took out first place in the final, while her fellow countrywoman Faith Kipyegon crossed the line second. </p> <p>The two Kenyan champions were seen celebrating with their country's flag after the race concluded, but their celebrations were cut short when news of Kipyegon's disqualification came through. </p> <p>Replays show that with two laps of the race to go, Kipyegon became entangled in a close proximity battle with Ethiopian rival Gudaf Tsegay as they raced for the first place. </p> <p>Kipyegon appeared to pull on the arm of Tsegay who reacted angrily by fending off the Kenyan.</p> <p>A Eurosport commentator was in disbelief over the display and couldn’t quite believe Kipyegon had been disqualified over the act. </p> <p>“That was outrageous I’m afraid. I am astonished,” he said on the global broadcast.</p> <p>“That was dreadful. She was not in front of her and shouldn’t have moved into her space. She wasn’t remotely far enough in front of her. There’s a rule you cannot [enter] into the space of an athlete where their feet are landing. Tsegay there was very out of order."</p> <p>“I think Tsegay was pushing into Kipyegon. Kipyegon just tried to protect her area, her zone so to speak."</p> <p>“If anything from those pictures what I’ve witnessed so far, and we need to get more information, I think Tsegay should have been disqualified. I am utterly flabbergasted. I cannot believe it. If anything they’ve got it completely wrong.”</p> <p>Because of the disqualification, Dutchwoman Sifansaw Hassan moved into the silver medal position, while Italy’s Nadia Battocletti took bronze.</p> <p>The Kenyan team officials, however, were determined to fight the disqualification, as they swiftly filed an appeal, arguing that the contact between the two athletes was incidental and did not warrant being stripped of her medal. </p> <p>After a thorough review of the incident, the appeal panel agreed with the Kenyan team’s assessment, concluding that the contact was part of the natural dynamics of a highly competitive race. </p> <p>As a result, Kipyegon's silver medal was reinstated.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Dave Shopland/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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Olympian who beat bone cancer sells medal to save toddler

<p>Olympic medallist Maria Andrejczyk has decided to auction off her silver medal for a very worthwhile cause. </p> <p>The Polish athlete, who won the silver medal for her outstanding performance in javelin, is auctioning off the medal to help fun a toddler's life-saving heart surgery.</p> <p>After beating bone cancer herself, the Olympian wants to help the young boy and his family pay for the operation, which comes with a hefty cost of $246,000.</p> <p>The 25-year-old athlete took to her Facebook page to call for her fans to help her. </p> <p>She said, “Miloszek has a serious heart defect. He needs an operation."</p> <p>“He already has a head start from Kubus — a boy who didn’t make it in time but whose amazing parents decided to pass on the funds they collected."</p> <p>“And in this way, I also want to help. It’s for him that I am auctioning my Olympic silver medal.”</p> <p>Maria missed out on an Olympic medal at Rio in 2016, before having to sit out the following year for a shoulder injury, which later led to her cancer diagnosis in 2018. </p> <p>After making it to the podium in Japan, she explained why she will be using her medal to help those in need. </p> <p>On a Polish television show, she said, “The true value of a medal always remains in the heart. A medal is only an object, but it can be of great value to others."</p> <p>“This silver can save lives, instead of collecting dust in a closet. That is why I decided to auction it to help sick children.”</p> <p>Maria's personal best of 71.4 metres is the third longest ever thrown by a woman in javelin, but her kind action will go much further. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty Images</em></p>

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China re-jigs Olympic medal tally to place itself first

<p>Sections of the Chinese media have been caught out changing the 2021 Olympics medal tally by placing China at the top of the list, ahead of the USA.</p> <p>This year's Olympics in Tokyo saw the USA finish first with 39 gold medals with China coming in a close second with 38 gold medals and the host nation, Japan, finished third with 27 golds.</p> <p>But China Central Television (CCTV), which is a state-controlled broadcaster run by the Chinese Communist Party, has been caught out listing China as having won 42 gold medals and winning the overall medal tally.</p> <p>This re-jigged tally came to light after it was seen on the Chinese social media platform - Weibo.</p> <p>From this platform, the graphic appeared all over mainstream social media with people on Twitter seeing the rejigged tally.</p> <p>Some have said the new tally is because the CCTV found a way to boost their medals by including Taiwan and Hong Kong in their overall tally. But even with these two nations’ medals, this only adds three gold medals to China’s overall tally, so it’s unclear where the 42 gold medals comes from.</p> <p>Hong Kong earned just one gold medal at the Games, while Taiwan, which competes as 'Chinese Taipei', earned two gold medals.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty and Twitter</em></p>

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War medal reunited with family almost 100 years later

<p>A war medal lost on a Melbourne beach in Australia, almost more than 100 years ago, has finally been returned to the family of a World War I digger.</p> <p>Just in time for ANZAC Day, Private R.S.G. Smith’s lost WWI British Victory Medal lost on Chelsea Beach in 1925 has been returned – over 61 years since his death.</p> <p>The medal was found in 1980, about 10km away at Beaumaris Beach.</p> <p>Although there were attempts for the medal to be returned to its rightful owner, it was not until it was passed on to Lilydale police Sergeant Vaughan Artherton that the mystery was solved.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840880/gold-medal.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7753df1a9bab45f18cd4609ea3fc4678" /></p> <p>It was revealed that the man who found the medal 40 years ago was married at the time but later passed away.</p> <p>His wife later remarried and came into contact with Sergeant Atherton at their local Upwey Belgrave RSL Club.</p> <p>Sergeant Atherton found Private Smith’s details by combing through the National Archives of Australia, and it was there where he found Robert Stanley Gordon Smith who was born in Fitzroy in 1891.</p> <p>Mr Smith was enlisted at Broadmeadows on the August 7, 1915 and formed a part of the 13th Reinforcements, 5th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force.</p> <p>He later would go on to serve in France where he was wounded in action twice.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840879/gold-medal-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6bbbe9673e5e4ec693c7c62ccfb80faa" /></p> <p>The veteran would return to Australia after the war, and it was there he met and married Ada Grace Nicholl.</p> <p>He is memorialised at the Coburg cemetery in the north of Melbourne.</p> <p>Sergeant Atherton found information in his service record a statutory declaration where he requested to replace a “bade” that he had lost at Chelsea beach back in 1925.</p> <p>Private Smith’s nephew Alan Norster admitted he was overjoyed when Sergeant Atherton located him to return the war medal.</p> <p>“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to have this medal put on display at Upwey- Belgrave RSL museum,” he said.</p> <p> <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840878/gold-medal-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bb4b6b1c057846f2a29f1f1e499cfe16" /> </p> <p>“I am sure Private Smith’s medal will be treasured by all present and future RSL members”.</p> <p>“I am glad that I have been successful on this occasion in reuniting the medal with the recipient’s relatives”.</p> <p>The successful reunion comes just in time for Anzac Day on Sunday to commemorate the 106th anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing.</p> <p><em>Images: Channel 9</em></p>

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A hero no more? Why princess Anne's kidnapping saviour must give up his medal

<p><span>The man who aided in helping Princess Anne from being kidnapped has been forced to give up a medal he received in recognition of his incredible bravery over 46 years ago. </span><br /><br /><span>The Queen’s daughter was only 23 at the time and on her way to Buckingham Palace after s charity event when her car was suddenly cut off in the middle of the road by another vehicle. </span><br /><br /><span>Jumping out of a car, stepped Ian Ball, gun in hand, who proceeded to shoot the royal's chauffeur and security officer before telling Princess Anne she had to go with him.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OG-MBHe1U/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OG-MBHe1U/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dix Noonan Webb (@dixnoonanwebb)</a> on Feb 6, 2020 at 1:30am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>In a 1980s interview about the kidnapping attempt, the Royal Princess revealed she took a surprisingly no-nonsense approach with her attacker.</span><br /><br /><span>"He opened the door, and we had a sort of discussion, hah, about where or where not we were going to go," she admitted calmly in the interview as she recalled details. </span><br /><br /><span>"He said I had to go with him, can't remember why. I said I didn't think I wanted to go. I was scrupulously polite, because I thought 'it's silly to be too rude'.</span><br /><br /><span>"We had a fairly low-key discussion about the fact that I wasn't going to go anywhere, and wouldn't it be much better if he moved away and we'd all forget about it?"</span><br /><br /><span>Interestingly enough, Princess Anne was not rude until Ball accidentally tore her gown when she was stepping out of the vehicle and Anne got angry. </span><br /><br /><span>However, he was not forced to face the wrath of the royal as out of nowhere, 6'4 former boxer Ronald Russell took a swing at the back of Ball's head and distracted him.</span><br /><br /><span>Ball took off running as more police arrived and was later arrested in part thanks to Russell's well-timed punch.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OYRRAnDll/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OYRRAnDll/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dix Noonan Webb (@dixnoonanwebb)</a> on Feb 6, 2020 at 4:01am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><br /><span>Princess Anne left the incident without a scratch on her and Russell was later awarded the George Medal from bravery by the Queen, who was beyond grateful that her daughter was safe.</span><br /><span>"The medal is from the Queen, but I want to thank you as Anne's mother," Her Majesty told Russell as she presented him with the medal.</span><br /><br /><span>Sadly, 46 years later Russell is being forced to let go of the medal, something he said he “would never ever do”. </span><br /><br /><span>Following years of declining health, the 72-year-old has decided to sell the royal memento, which could go for as much as $38,000.</span><br /><br /><span>However, he has a simple request for the person who buys the keepsake. </span><br /><br /><span>"What I would like is whoever does eventually buy the medal, I would hope they might invite me somewhere to tell them about what happened on the night," he told the <em>BBC.</em></span><br /><br /><span>Russell recalled Princess Anne remained calm and collected when Ball confronted the royal with a gun, telling her assailant: "Just go away and don't be such a silly man."</span><br /><br /><span>Moments later Russell made a move to protect the princess, and squared up against Ball despite the danger he’d be putting himself in. </span><br /><br /><span>"Ball stood there glaring at me with the gun and I hit him," Russell said. </span><br /><br /><span>"I hit him as hard as I could, and he was flat on the floor face down."</span></p>

Retirement Life

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Olympian Michael Diamond sells gold medal ahead of heart operation

<p><span>Olympic shooter Michael Diamond is selling his gold medal from the 1996 Atlanta Games after suffering from a heart failure.</span></p> <p><span>The 47-year-old said he is currently awaiting a heart transplant at a Newcastle hospital following a “bizarre and alarming” diagnosis.</span></p> <p><span>“This is the greatest fight of my life,” he told <em><a href="https://www.newidea.com.au/olympian-michael-diamond-fights-for-life-after-shock-arrest">New Idea</a></em>.</span></p> <p><span>Diamond said he started noticing his health problems a month ago after suffering shortness of breath. An ultrasound at Gosford Hospital revealed that Diamond’s heart was functioning at just 15 per cent. </span></p> <p><span>“They told me I’m actually in line for a heart transplant,” he said. “I thought, I’m too young for that.”</span></p> <p><span>Diamond missed the selection for the 2016 Rio Olympics after he was charged with high-range drink driving, firearm offences and domestic violence offences. The conviction saw him banned from holding a firearm’s licence until 2017, when he successfully appealed against the conviction in Newcastle District Court.</span></p> <p><span>In the same year, the former champion sold his gold medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics to pay for the legal bills for $72,000.</span></p> <p><span>Auction house Leonard Joel announced on Monday that Diamond’s Atlanta medal would be auctioned on December 5. It is estimated to bring between $50,000 and $70,000.</span></p> <p><span>“I still have bills and I’ve still got to survive,” Diamond said. “It’s a pretty sobering feeling to have your heart fail on you … It puts things into check.</span></p> <p><span>“I do want to hang around. I want to see my kids get older and get married and I want to have grandchildren. I’d be very grateful for life.”</span></p>

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101-year-old wins sprinting gold medal at the World Masters Games

<p>The most popular medal at the World Masters Games has gone to the oldest competitor - 101-year-old Indian sprinter Man Kaur.</p> <p>She was heartily cheered when a gold medal was draped around her neck after winning her one-woman 100m race at the Waitakere's Trusts Arena athletics stadium on Monday.</p> <p>Man Kaur - sporting her special number, 10001 - crossed the line in 1min 14.58sec - almost 1min 4sec short of the women's world record for the distance.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-video"> <p dir="ltr">Amazing 101 year old completing the 100m <a href="https://twitter.com/WMG2017">@WMG2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WMG2017?src=hash">#WMG2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/wUEcPHThv0">pic.twitter.com/wUEcPHThv0</a></p> — Wɐʎuǝ Qnǝpןǝʎ (@UUJQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/UUJQ/status/856260816936386560">April 23, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>But Man Kaur was definitely a champion in the eyes of the crowd, epitomising the spirit of the Masters Games.</p> <p>She raised her hands in prayer position to thank her supporters and sported a winning smile at the medal ceremony.</p> <p>She arrived in Auckland to much fanfare a week ago and has been embraced by the city's Indian community.</p> <p>​The World Masters Games crowds will be seeing a lot more of Man Kaur yet.</p> <p>She will also take part in the 200m, shot put and javelin this week.</p> <p><em>First appeared on <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em>Image credit: The Canadian Press via Darryl Dyck Twitter</em></p>

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