Stanislav Goruna Returns Olympic Bronze Medal After Charity Auction
In a remarkable gesture of solidarity and support, Ukrainian karateka Stanislav Goruna has returned his Olympic bronze medal from the Tokyo 2020 Games after it was sold at a charity auction to benefit Ukrainian military and humanitarian efforts.
In 2021, Ukrainian karate athlete Stanislav Goruna achieved significant success by winning a bronze medal in men's kumite (weight category up to 75 kg) at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This award not only symbolized his sporting achievements but also represented support for Ukraine during challenging times.
Following the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Goruna made the decision to auction his Olympic medal. The aim of this initiative was to raise funds to support Ukrainian soldiers and meet humanitarian needs that became particularly pressing during the war.
The medal was purchased for $20,500 by a Japanese auction participant with connections to a local karate club. According to the buyer, the initial plan was to return the award to Goruna after the war in Ukraine concluded. However, given the protracted nature of the conflict, it was decided to return the medal earlier as a gesture of support and a sign of hope for the restoration of peace.
In early April 2023, Stanislav Goruna traveled to Japan, where he participated in several events. He even conducted a kumite training session for the local national team, marking a historic moment as it was the first time a foreigner trained the Japanese team.
The family that purchased Goruna's medal shared that they met with the Ukrainian athlete and returned his Olympic award to him. One member of the Japanese family, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed their feelings: "Yesterday we had a special event where the children officially returned the medal to Mr. Goruna. The room was filled with journalists, and the ceremony along with his special kumite seminar was everywhere in the news! In fact, we had already personally returned the medal to him the night before — he came over for dinner! He is such a nice guy. The children had a great time at the seminar, and it was truly a cool experience for them!"
In a statement to local media, Stanislav Goruna expressed his gratitude to Japan for its support of Ukraine during this difficult time. "This medal has become more than just a medal. It was Japan that extended a helping hand. I want to express my gratitude for returning it," he told Kyodo News.
It is worth noting that Goruna is one of Ukraine's most decorated karate athletes. He won the European Championship in 2021 and was recognized as the best at the World (2017) and European Games in 2019. Throughout his career, the long-time captain of the Ukrainian national team has earned 13 medals at the most prestigious international tournaments.
Earlier, we reported that a 24-year-old Olympic champion from Japan has retired from her career.