Former Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut stunned the world at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when she was just 17, earning medals and hearts with her electrifying performance. She repeated her stellar performance a few years later at the Montreal Olympics. But today, reportedly burdened by financial crisis, Korbut has sold off her medals and trophies in a weekend online sale by Heritage Auctions. However, Korbut has denied that she is broke.
"This ability to conquer oneself is no doubt the most precious of all things sports bestows" @OlgaKorbut1 #MM pic.twitter.com/G6XDiSWhLC
— S.o.S (@SanchezOnSports) August 22, 2016
In her glorious career, the gymnast has had earned more than 32 medals worth USD 333,500 (INR 2.22 Crore), according to auction house spokesman Chris Ivy told Reuters on Monday.
https://twitter.com/AandETodayNews/status/837050028392775680
Based in Arizona, Korbut has now auctioned her medals, including the memorable ones -- her team gold medal. She earned USD 66,000 by selling the top medal.
“Medals saved Korbut from hunger,” reads the Gazeta.ru headline, the BBC reported.
The 61-year-old inspiring gymnast moved to the United States in 1991. Having been one of the greatest motivators of all the time, popularly known as “the Sparrow from Minsk”, this pioneer now faces obstacles in living a proper day without any hassles.
#OlgaKorbut, the Soviet gymnast who charmed world at the 1972 #Munich Olympics, has sold her medal haul and other trophies in a #US auction. pic.twitter.com/Wb23flTSUr
— ATV (@atvpakistan) February 28, 2017
However, Olga Korbut denied such rumours and said that she is not financially broke. the tweet reads:
https://twitter.com/OlgaKorbut1/status/836634333846753280
She even sold off one of her performance leotards, her 1972 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and various Soviet medals and World Championship medals.
Watch Her Gymnast Moves Here:
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Feature Image Credit: Hindustan Times
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