Broke 1960 Olympian Auctioning Medals

Sydney Morning Herald offers a moving story about a former Olympian selling his medals:

Fifty years ago John Konrads swam eight world records. He set marks for every distance between 200 metres and 1650 yards, won three gold medals at the 1958 Cardiff Empire Games and took the 1500 gold at the Rome Olympics two years later.

Along with his younger sister, Ilsa, he was living proof of the opportunities offered by the happy, sun-filled land of postwar Australia. Displaced persons, they had fled Latvia with their family and, at a time when amateurism ruled, they competed for the honour of representing the country that gave them shelter. They made Australia look good, and their fellow Australians loved them with pride. Everybody around the country knew the "Konrads kids".

Konrads went on to a stellar career: jetsetting around the world, teaching wealthy French to swim, being the Australian face of L'Oreal, fronting Melbourne's bid to pinch the formula one grand prix from Adelaide. He came home the year before the 2000 Olympics to run the Cook + Phillip Park pool in Sydney's CBD.

He bailed out of managing the pool last year when his company went into voluntary liquidation. Now 66, he is cash-strapped and selling his medals.

Depression, alcohol, bad real estate and business decisions have all taken their toll.

The full story is here.