For Vladimir Semirunniy (POL) sport is about more than just winning medals. The 23-year-old Polish speed skater has donated the silver medal he won in the 10,000m at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 to support children with cancer. The medal is now being auctioned by the Polish Cancer Fighters Foundation and the bids are still open. 

Olympic success after slow start to the season

After having won 5000m bronze and 10,000m silver at the ISU Speed Skating World Championships 2025 in Hamar, Semirunniy had a slow start to the Olympic season in Salt Lake City and Calgary last November.

Only after earning promotion to the World Cup A Division with a magnificent 10,000m track record at Thialf Stadium in Heerenveen (the Netherlands) he found back his groove in the Olympic season.

Winning gold (5000m) and silver (1500m) at the ISU Speed Skating European Championships in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Semirunniy, went to Milan as a podium candidate in the long distances and he delivered. Only Metoděj Jílek (CZE) was faster in the 10,000m, and Semirunniy went home with silver in time of 12 minutes and 39.08s.

Cancer Fighters Foundation

As important as the medal was from a sporting perspective, Semirunniy wanted the medal to contribute to a greater cause. "A couple of days after I won the medal, I thought about donating it to support the children in my hometown Tomaszow Mazowiecki," Semirunniy says.

Then in April, the speed skater heard about the Cancer Fighters Foundation and the world record livestream fund raising campaign by Polish influencer latwogang, and decided to donate his medal to this campaign. 

"So many people in Poland followed this livestream and I thought it would a great opportunity to help to keep the dreams of children alive and support the fight against child cancer," Semirunniy says.

"I got on the livestream in Warsaw three weeks ago to donate the medal and its being auctioned at the moment. The bidding ends by the end of May, so people can still join the auction. 

Vladimir Semirunniy competing in the Men's 10000m at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy © Getty Images

Maria Andrejczyk example

At the moment of our interview, the latest bid is 32,250.00 PLN, which equals about 7,600 euro. Semirunniy hopes for more. 

"In the past Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk donated her Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medal to fund a life-saving heart surgery for an eight-month-old infant, The winning bid was way over 200.000 PLN, so it would be great to equal that."

Thanks to Poland

For Semirunniy, who was born in Russia, donating his medal is a way to thank his now homeland. 

"Poland gave me the opportunity to skate in the international arena and provided me with all the facilities, so I want give something back. This is my way to pay respect and say thank you to Poland."