A remarkable piece of Olympic history is up for grabs as Boston-based RR Auction offers a complete winner’s medal set from the Munich 1972 Summer Games.
This extraordinary set, awarded to legendary U.S. swimmer Steve Genter, comprises his gold medal in the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay, his silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle, and his bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle. The auction will conclude on July 18, just eight days before the 2024 Paris Olympics kick off on July 26.
Steve Genter’s inspiring tale from the 1972 Summer Olympics is one of resilience and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of a Games marked by historical events such as the Munich massacre, Mark Spitz’s gold medal triumphs, and the controversial ending of the men’s basketball final.
A 6-foot 4-inch undergraduate from UCLA, Genter entered the Munich Olympics as a favorite to reach the podium and as the main competitor to teammate Mark Spitz. Despite a lingering cough from bronchitis developed during the Olympic trials, Genter’s determination led him to Munich. A week before his first event, the 200-meter freestyle, Genter felt a ‘gushy’ sensation in his chest. Doctors at a Munich hospital diagnosed him with a collapsed lung, and a chest tube was inserted to release the trapped air. Genter assisted in the process by squeezing rubber inflation balls for five days and nights, refusing pain medication for fear of it containing controlled substances.
By the fifth day, Genter’s lung had reinflated, and with approval from coaches and doctors, he was cleared to compete. On August 29, just a day after his hospital release, Genter swam in the 200-meter freestyle finals. Leading the pack, he felt a sudden pain at the 135-meter mark as his stitches ruptured. Despite blacking out and losing feeling in his extremities, Genter pushed forward to finish second with a miraculous effort. Two days later, he swam a blistering 1.52.48 in the 4 x 200-meter relay, a time that would have won gold in the 200 freestyle and set a world record.
Genter’s bronze medal story is equally compelling. On September 1, Genter placed third in the 400-meter freestyle, with 16-year-old teammate Rick DeMont taking gold and Australian Brad Cooper taking silver. However, DeMont was later disqualified due to the banned substance ephedrine in his asthma medication. The IOC gave Genter the choice of accepting DeMont’s silver medal or facing a lifetime Olympic ban. In an act of solidarity, Genter chose to keep his bronze medal, supporting his teammate.
Genter’s incredible Olympic journey was featured in Conviction,” the premiere episode of John MacLeod’s award-winning documentary series Beyond Bronze, Silver and Gold. This exemplary medal set symbolizes the courage, athleticism, and sportsmanship of Steve Genter, making it a prized offering for collectors and sports enthusiasts alike.
Headlining the sale is a rare torch from the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. This torch, marked “10” on its handle, was designed by Disney ‘imagineer’ John Hench and is one of the rarest and most valuable Olympic torches ever made. Its silver aluminum body, measuring 19 inches, features three Olympic rings and the Squaw Valley Games emblem, adding to its historical significance.
Walt Disney, who chaired the Pageantry Committee for the 1960 Games, oversaw the torch relay, tasking Hench with its design. The flame, initially lit in Morgedal, Norway, traveled a unique route before arriving at Squaw Valley, where it was carried by American skier Andrea Mead Lawrence and skater Kenneth Charles Henry, who lit the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony.
“We’re delighted to offer the most extensive Olympic auction we’ve ever put together, consisting of important material from every Olympiad, including over 75 winners’ medals and almost every torch, including the first-ever offered 2024 Paris torch,” added Livingston. “This auction is an Olympic collectors’ dream that ends right before the Paris Summer Olympic Games.”
Among the highlighted items is an official Paris 2024 Summer Olympics torch—the first to be offered at auction.
Constructed of recycled steel, this torch was designed by Mathieu Lehanneur and manufactured by ArcelorMittal. The torch features a perfectly symmetrical, flowing design inspired by three themes of Paris 2024: equality, water, and peacefulness. Only 2,000 torches were produced, significantly fewer than for recent Games. Accompanying the torch is an original Paris 2024 Summer Olympics torchbearer uniform, size XL, comprising a long-sleeve runner’s jersey and white athletic pants emblazoned with the relay emblems and the 2024 logo.
The Olympic flame for the Paris 2024 Games was lit in a traditional Olympia, Greece ceremony on April 16, 2024, and carried through Greece before crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Marseille on the Belem—a three-masted sailing ship. The flame’s journey across France includes iconic locations such as the Lascaux caves, the Alésia archaeological site, the medieval city of Carcassonne, and the Palace of Versailles. The Olympic cauldron will be lit at the opening ceremony on July 26, 2024, concluding the 68-day torch relay.
The auction features nearly 400 lots, including rare relay torches and winner’s medals from games spanning over a century. Highlighted items include first-place medals from St. Louis 1904, Los Angeles 1932, Tokyo 1964, Sydney 2000, and London 2012. Online bidding began on June 18 and will conclude on July 18.
For more information and to place bids, visit the RR Auction website at www.rrauction.com. This auction presents a unique opportunity to own a piece of Olympic history and celebrate the legacy of athletic heroes from past games.