Discover how an Olympic medal and generosity changed lives, and what leaders can learn from this act of selflessness.

In Episode 269 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn shares a moving story about Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk, who made headlines after auctioning her Olympic silver medal to help save a child’s life. This act of generosity, and the surprising twist that followed, offers a reminder of the power of giving and the ripple effects it can generate.
Mark and Shawn explore how this story can be used to encourage generosity, build trust, and create positive expectations in leadership and team dynamics. They also reflect on the power of using simple, human language in storytelling.
For your story bank
Tags: Generosity, Storytelling, Trust, Inspiration, Leadership
This story starts at 0:38
Not long after the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021 but officially still called the 2020 Olympics, Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk was riding a wave of success. She had just won the silver medal, an incredible accomplishment, especially considering just a few years earlier, she had been battling bone cancer. To recover from that and then reach the Olympic podium was nothing short of extraordinary.
But just days after her victory, Maria came across a heartbreaking story. An eight-month-old boy named Milosz Malysa had been born with a severe heart defect, and he desperately needed surgery overseas. The total cost was around US$380,000. His family had managed to raise about half that amount but time was running out.
Maria decided to do something that stunned many, she put her freshly won silver medal up for auction. Her goal was simple, to raise the remaining funds to help save Milosz’s life.
The auction gained attention, and the winning bid came from an unexpected place, a Polish convenience store chain called Zabka. They offered US$125,000, exactly what was needed to make up the shortfall.
But that wasn’t the end of the story. Zabka, in an extraordinary act of kindness, contacted Maria and told her to keep the medal. They said they admired her selflessness and wanted her to retain the symbol of her achievement.
Maria still had her silver medal, but more importantly, she had made a massive difference in the life of a family and captured the imagination of a nation. Her act of generosity inspired thousands in Poland and beyond.
Sadly, Milosz passed away a year later. But the impact of Maria’s gesture didn’t fade. It had already created a ripple effect of goodwill, trust, and inspiration.