Here is the Buyer of the World’s First Olympic Medal

The world’s first Olympic medal made headlines globally in March when it sold for a staggering DKK 900,000 at the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen. The historic medal has now been formally handed over to its new owner – who in a remarkable gesture had travelled all the way from Singapore to Denmark to collect it in person.

Link to video and photo materials HERE.

The buyer is Mr. Clyde Lee, an Entrepreneur based in Singapore, who, since the hammer fell earlier this year, had been looking forward to finally seeing the legendary Olympic medal in person. Based in Singapore, Mr. Lee emerged as the successful bidder after a massive international interest and an intense bidding battle among collectors worldwide. Estimated at DKK 200,000–300,000, the medal ultimately sold for three times its estimate, achieving a hammer price of DKK 900,000.

The medal was awarded at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 and is considered a true crown jewel among Olympic collectibles – and an object of extreme rarity.

A Custodian of History

The handover took place on Monday morning at Bruun Rasmussen’s headquarter in Kongens Lyngby, just north of Copenhagen. Here, Mr. Lee explained what drew him to this particular medal. As the father of two sons aged 17 and 14, both competitive fencers, he has first-hand insight into what it takes to compete in elite sport.

“When I first saw the medal, I immediately thought about the history it represents. My two sons, who both compete in fencing at a high level, have given me a deeper understanding of what it takes to perform at an elite level. At the first Olympic Games in 1896, air travel did not exist, which makes this Olympian’s journey to Greece and participation all the more remarkable.

I did not win the medal myself and therefore do not consider myself as its owner, but rather as a custodian of the history it represents. That is why it is particularly meaningful for me to be here in person to receive it.

To me, the medal is about sharing a story and conveying its significance. It reflects the great dedication leading up to it, and the moment when victory was achieved. My wish is to showcase it to younger generations in Singapore. It certainly won’t be kept hidden away in a cabinet, but will be displayed to inspire and to remind people that this is the world’s very first Olympic medal,” said Mr. Lee during the handover.

An Extraordinary Journey from Start to Finish

At Bruun Rasmussen, the team also looked forward to meeting the buyer of what is considered an exceptional piece of Olympic history. Head of department Christian Grundtvig was present to formally hand over the medal.

“It is extremely rare for buyers of objects of this calibre to attend a physical handover like this. We have been fortunate to welcome Mr. Clyde Lee, who has travelled all the way from Singapore. His visit to Denmark was therefore a truly remarkable occasion that we at Bruun Rasmussen had greatly anticipated,” says Christian Grundtvig, who has also been closely involved in the entire process from start to finish.

“For me personally, it has been a very exciting journey. 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 adds.

The First Modern Olympic Games

The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens in April 1896, featuring 241 athletes from 14 nations. Denmark was among the participating countries, and Viggo Jensen became Denmark’s first Olympic champion in weightlifting. However, Bruun Rasmussen cannot confirm whether the medal sold today was paticularly awarded for his performance.

The medal was engraved by French artist Jules-Clément Chaplain. The obverse features a laureate head of the Greek god Zeus holding a globe, upon which the Goddess of Victory, Nike, stands with an olive branch. The reverse depicts the Acropolis rock with the Parthenon and the Greek inscription “Διεθνείς Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες – Αθήναι 1896,” referring to the International Olympic Games in Athens.