“The Olympic gold medal is a significant piece of New Zealand sporting history, and is irreplaceable for Mr O’Connell.
“We understand that Olympic medals are often difficult to sell and are frequently recognised once publicly reported. For that reason, police are urging anyone who has information on the medal’s whereabouts to please come forward.
“If you are in possession of the medal – we urge you to return this immediately and without damage.”
Remarkably, it’s not the first time a member of the winning coxless four team has had their gold medal stolen.
In 2006, thieves broke into Shane O’Brien’s Sandringham home and took his gold medal, as well as the bronze and silver medals from the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, among other items.
O’Connell, 67, said he and his wife were away in Napier for a wedding when the break-in occurred, leaving their home unattended from Friday.
While vehicles and tools were taken, he said the stolen Olympic gold medal was irreplaceable.
“Everything’s covered by insurance other than this gold medal,” he earlier told the Herald.
“It has more sentimental value than monetary value. I just don’t want them to deface it or try to melt it down.”
O’Connell won the medal as part of New Zealand’s men’s coxless four at the LA Olympics following consecutive world championship titles.
“I won’t be winning another Olympic gold medal. It’s a one-in-a-lifetime achievement,” he said.
He said he feared the medal could be destroyed or discarded if the offenders decided it was too difficult to sell.
“I don’t want them to throw it in the ocean or destroy it. If they don’t know what to do with it, just hide it somewhere and leave it there. Don’t destroy it.”
Unlike his world championship medals, which were displayed on a wall, the Olympic medal had been hidden behind books on a shelf.
“They never touched the others. They obviously knew where to look.”
Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.
