The legacy of Olympic victory just took a wild turn in Hungary. Imagine spending your whole life chasing greatness, reaching the top, and then—poof!—your most prized possession disappears. That’s exactly what happened to 36-year-old Hungarian fencing legend László Csongrádi. His 36-year-old Olympic gold medal, practically a family heirloom, has reportedly been stolen.

For the past two weeks, the legendary fencer has been dealing with mental torment. Losing the biggest achievement of his life, Csongrádi is unable to find peace or joy. The fencer is desperate to get his medal back. And he has even resorted to the most unusual way to bring it back to himself.

László Csongrádi, who won a gold medal in the team saber competition at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has stated that if the thief returns the stolen Olympic gold medal, Csongrádi will not only forgive them but will also include the thief in his will. “You can have it after my death…it is legally mine”, said László Csongrádi to let the thief know that the medal can be theirs forever. The former fencer has been consumed by the thought of the treasure he had lost.

Devastated, the former athlete shared with Sportal, “For two weeks, I can’t calm down and be happy, because everything reminds me of my stolen Olympic gold medal.” If the thief simply returns the medal, he will stop all legal actions, ensuring the culprit walks free. Csongrádi mentioned, “I would give everything to the culprit, just bring back the worthless object that means nothing to him… won’t leave it to a museum in my will, I’ll bequeath it to him”

What has puzzled the 65-year-old heartbroken Olympic medalist is the fact that his medal was kept secured in an almost “nuclear safe” location, known to no one. Moreover, alongside being a fencer, Csongrádi worked in asset protection for thirty years. Thus, he made sure that his most treasured medal was safeguarded in the best way possible. However, the thief did leave behind some clues!

László Csongrádi’s medal thief left behind clues amid the chaos

László Csongrádi stated, “No one knew where I was, not even my parents. The sneak thief… pulled out every drawer, opened every door, even the attic door, he went in or looked everywhere, but he didn’t find any money”. He further added how the culprit did not even carry the box in which the medal was contained. The burglar rifled through his home with eerie precision, leaving behind chaos but taking the most valuable item without a trace.

The mess left behind included scattered rubber bands to the discarded medal case. The scene just adds to the eerie aura surrounding the crime. However, there’s one clue that might have led them to the criminal. “The thief touched many things, many fingerprints were left behind”, said Csongrádi. But, unfortunately, with fingerprints abound, none are identifiable. 

Despite the invasion of his privacy and his home, Csongrádi harbors no desire for revenge. He is driven by a simple wish, that is to get back what belongs to him. Shattered and desperate, he reassured the thief, “I don’t want to hurt him… you can negotiate with me.” Now, as the case proceeds, one can’t help but wonder when will the mysterious culprit be found. Or will László Csongrádi’s prized possession remain a phantom of the past, stolen not just from his hands, but from his heart?