A rare Olympic medal sold in Denmark for DKK 900,000 has now been handed over to its new owner from Singapore who travelled across the world to collect it in person, according to a press release from Bruun Rasmussen.
The medal, awarded at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, is considered one of the most historic pieces of Olympic memorabilia ever sold.
Travelled all the way from Singapore
The buyer, Singapore-based entrepreneur Clyde Lee, made the journey to Denmark following an intense international bidding process.
The medal was auctioned by the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen, where it sold for three times its estimated price.
Lee said he felt a strong personal connection to the object.
“I don’t see myself as the owner, but as a custodian of the history it represents,” he said during the handover.
As the father of two teenage fencers, Lee said the medal holds special meaning and plans to display it in Singapore to inspire young athletes, highlighting the dedication behind extraordinary achievements.
A rare piece of history
The medal dates back to the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, where 241 athletes from 14 nations competed.
According to the auction house, items of this kind are extremely rare, and it is unusual for buyers to travel in person to collect them.
The sale highlights the growing international interest in Nordic cultural and historical objects – including from buyers in Asia.
It is rare for buyers to attend handovers in person, said Christian Grundtvig of Bruun Rasmussen.
“From the moment we first examined and assessed the medal, to generating significant international attention, achieving a strong auction result, and finally having the pleasure of handing it over to a very happy buyer – it has been truly extraordinary,” Grundtvig added.
