2016 Olympic gold medal makes $57,000

A 2016 Rio Olympic gold medal realised £44,000 ($56,915) at Graham Budd Auctions on May 15.

This is the first time a Rio 2016 gold has been offered at auction.

Rio 2016 Graham

The medal was sold alongside its original presentation box

In the past it was rare for athletes to sell off their medals so shortly after the Games, but in recent years there has been an uptick in the trend.

Usually these medals are sold anonymously, so it’s impossible to know who it was awarded to. This is the case here.

An anonymously consigned London 2012 gold made $55,831 at RR Auction last year.

The boxing gloves Muhammad Ali wore in his June 30, 1975 World Heavyweight Championship bout against Joe Bugner in Kuala Lumpur made £46,000 ($59,511).

In the run up to the fight, Malaysian officials informed Ali and Bugner their gloves would be held in a local jail for safe keeping.

“Wait a minute,” interjected Ali.

''You're putting my gloves in jail? This is awful. How can you do that? How can you put my gloves in jail? They ain't done nothing yet!''

Ali demolished Bugner over 15 punishing rounds.

Ali's next fight would be the career defining Thrilla in Manilla, which pitted him against Joe Frazier – one of very few boxers to beat Ali in his prime.

Click here to check out all our sports memorabilia for sale.

Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about sports memorabilia auctions.

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock