Ukraine has won two medals as a country in the last two Winter Olympics. Both times, it was the same athlete standing on the podium. Freestyle skiing extraordinaire Oleksandr Abramenko won gold in Men’s Aerials at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, becoming just the second-ever Winter Olympic champion from Ukraine after Oksana Baiul’s figure skating title in 1994. Most recently, Abramenko took silver at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing where he had the honor of being the Ukrainian team’s flag bearer at Opening Ceremonies. It marked the fifth straight Winter Olympics in which he has competed, beginning with the 2006 Torino Games at age 17. He placed sixth at the 2014 Sochi Games, and in the 2015-16 season became the first Ukrainian to win a World Cup title in any freestyle event.
On February 24, 2022, one week after his runner-up finish in Beijing, Russia invaded Ukraine. The devastating War in Ukraine continues to drag on, putting millions of innocent lives at risk including Abramenko and his family.
“We spend the night in the underground parking in the car, because the air attack siren is constantly on,” Abramenko explained in a 3/4/2022 New York Times article (pictured with his wife and then two-year-old son in a Kyiv parking garage. “It’s scary to sleep in the apartment, I myself saw from the window how the air defense systems worked on enemy missiles, and strong explosions were heard.”
SCP Auctions is proud to present Oleksandr Abramenko’s 2018 PyeongChang first-place gold medal to the market, with proceeds to benefit both Abramenko’s family and Ukrainian War relief efforts. This is the first winner’s medal of any kind (including silver or bronze) from the 2018 Winter Olympics to be put up for auction. In addition to the medal, Olek is also including his official first place winner's diploma, his athlete ID card (used for entry into Olympic village and event sites), and the stuffed animal of white tiger Soohorang (official mascot of the 2018 Winter Games) only given out to podium winners. What's more, Abramenko has topped it off with his actual event-worn bib from his gold-medal winning aerial jump.
The robust gold medal made of 99.9% pure silver with 6 grams of gold plating, measures 92.5 mm in diameter and 8 mm thick, weighing 612 grams (21.8 oz.) including the ribbon. The turquoise and pink ribbon from which it hangs is made from gapsa, a traditional South Korean fabric. Attached to a thick loop at the top, it measures approx. 32” long (if unconnected and fully stretched), with “PyeongChang 2018” sewn in white.
The design of PyeongChang winners’ medals symbolizes Korean culture and tradition. According to the official Olympics.com website, it is “inspired by the texture of tree trunks, with the front bearing the Olympic rings and dynamic diagonal lines that reflect both the history of the Olympics and the determination of the participants. On the reverse are the discipline, event, and the PyeongChang 2018 emblem. They are the work of celebrated South Korean designer Lee Suk-woo, who incorporated Hangeul – the Korean alphabet and the foundation of Korean culture – through a series of consonants, symbolizing the effort of athletes from around the world who came together as one to compete at PyeongChang 2018.”
The medal, with the Olympic rings in raised relief on the obverse and “Freestyle Skiing Men’s Aerials” stamped on the reverse, is very well-preserved with light surface wear. It comes housed in its original round mahogany wood presentation box (7.5" diameter, 2" depth) lined in black velvet with a small 2018 Olympic pin on the interior, with the PyeongChang Olympics legend stamped on the exterior of the lid.
Oleksandr's diploma has his full name at the top and reads "Freestyle Skiing Men's Aerials Olympic Champion and Gold Medalist" on the 8.5" x 11" certificate with the facsimile signatures of IOC President Thomas Bach and 2018 PyeongChang OOC President Hee-Beom Lee at the bottom. It comes in a frame which can easily be removed. Abramenko's athlete ID has his full name and photo (front and back). It measures 5" x 7.5" and comes laminated with a lanyard to wear around the neck. The cute little stuffed animal of Soohorang has the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic emblem on its belly. The white tiger has long been considered Korea's guardian animal; Sooho means "protection" in Korean.
Perhaps the coolest piece of this lot is Abramenko's event-worn #6 bib, which is essentally a white and orange sleeveless pullover shirt. It has the 2018 Winter Olympic legend across the chest. Abramenko has added his signature and long inscription "2018 Freestyle Aerials Gold Medal First Male Winter Medal for Ukraine" in black marker. An absolutely incredible complete group lot capturing every historic aspect of the Ukrainian's monumental achievement.
Unfortunately, a knee injury in early 2023 has put Abramenko Oleksandr’s skiing career in jeopardy at the age of 35. Through his generous offer in this auction, he pledges to donate a portion of the auction proceeds to relief efforts at home and provide much-needed aid and supplies for Ukrainians in need. Includes letter of provenance from Abramenko.