The Sydney Olympic gold medal won by Australian shooting legend Michael Diamond now belongs to a former British Olympic fencer.
The 2000 Olympic medal was auctioned off for $72,000 on Thursday in Sydney to Richard Oldcorn.
Oldcorn, who competed at three Olympic Games in fencing, says he's happy to be the custodian of the medal while Diamond attempts to rebuild his life.
"Michael is on hard times and if he ever wanted to have the medal back again I would let him have it at the price he paid for it," Oldcorn told reporters after the auction.
"It's his and he should have it. It's only for poor circumstances that I'm here with it now."
Diamond, who participated in six Olympics and won gold in 1996 and 2000, was acquitted in October after previously being convicted of drink-driving and firearms charges.
The case cost him sponsorships, employment and a chance at competing in the upcoming Commonwealth Games as well as leaving him deeply in debt, his spokesman told AAP.
The spokesman said it was an emotional day for his client.
"It's not something he wanted to do but it's something he had to do," he told AAP on Thursday.
