Olympic Silver Helps Rebuild Life Ex-Athlete Sells Medal After Cancer Battle

Raelene Boyle sobbed gently Friday after selling her Olympic silver medal, but the tears were more over the memory of her battle with cancer than losing her greatest sporting trophy.

Boyle’s 100-meter silver medal from the 1972 Olympics sold for $52,500. She had put the medal and other memorabilia, including the flag she carried into the Montreal Olympic Stadium in 1976, up for auction to help rebuild her life after 18 months of fighting breast cancer. The cancer is in remission.

The auction was part of a lunch in Boyle’s honor, organized a year ago while she was undergoing chemotherapy. It was solely her decision to sell the medal, one of three silvers she won. She has given the other two away.

“This time last year I thought, ‘I may not be alive - how can I be saying yes to something I can’t be sure I can fulfill the commitment to?”’ Boyle told 580 people who paid $150 each.

“I couldn’t even drink a glass of champagne last year. There was all this free drink and I couldn’t even have one glass because it felt like I was drinking razor blades,” she said.

“This year I haven’t enjoyed one yet, but I’m going to enjoy a few afterwards.”

The event raised more than $300,000, to be shared between Boyle and the Cancer Foundation. Among those in the crowd was singer Olivia Newton-John, who spoke of her successful fight against breast cancer.

The 46-year-old Boyle had hoped the medal might be returned to her by the successful bidder, but businessman Bill Gibbins said it would go to the Australian Olympic Museum in Melbourne.

“I thought it would go for over $100,000. I got it cheap,” Gibbins said.

He said the medal now belonged to Australia, though Boyle would be allowed to use it for functions if needed.

Although her medal was gone, Boyle considered Friday a time for celebration.

“It’s been a wonderful day. It’s all so overwhelming that I find it difficult to stand here and talk,” Boyle said.