Prague’s National Museum to display Olympic gold medal of Olga Fikotová-Connolly

The National Museum in Prague has received part of the estate of Czechoslovak Olympic discus champion Olga Fikotová-Connolly, including the gold medal she won at the 1956 Games in Melbourne. A ceremonial handover of the items took place at the museum last Thursday, and the historic medal will go on public display there for the first time later this year.

Olga Fikotova-Connoly|Photo: Ľubomír Smatana, Czech Radio

Among those attending the ceremony at the National Museum last Thursday were its director Michal Lukeš, the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic Nicholas Merrick, and the two daughters of Olga Fikotová-Connolly, who travelled to Prague for the ceremonial handover of the donation.

The highlight of the donation is the gold medal Fikotová won in the discus throw at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. Her daughter Merja Connolly-Freund says the medal meant much more to their mother than just a sporting achievement.

“Olga called Melbourne ‘her’ Olympics. She said all that was on her mind was to do something good for the Czech people. She told us she wanted to win for the streetcar driver who once told her she didn’t have to pay when she got on, and for the man at the newsstand who gave her a newspaper in the morning.

Olga Fikotova and Harold Connolly (1960)|Photo: Mario De Biassi, Angelo Cozzi, Mondadori Publishers/Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“What is truly amazing about today’s donation is that Olga’s gold medal is being returned to her people and reunited here in the museum with the medals of Dana and Emil Zátopek, her close friends, with Emil serving as the best man at her wedding.”

Fikotová’s story soon crossed the political boundaries of the Cold War. At the Melbourne Games she met American hammer throw champion Harold Connolly, and the two soon fell in love. Their relationship later led to marriage and drew international attention at a time when contacts across the Iron Curtain were rare.

Although she hoped to continue representing Czechoslovakia, the political circumstances of the time eventually forced her to make a difficult choice, as her daughter Nina Connolly Southard explained.

Olga Fikotova-Connolly representing USA in 1972|Photo: Mondadori Publishers/Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“When my mother moved to America, she believed she would find freedom and happiness. But instead she faced prejudice simply because of where she came from. It was a complicated time in history. She wanted to marry the man she loved, while still representing her homeland in sport.

“But she was told she could not have both. She had to choose between her country and the man she loved. No one should ever have to make such a decision.”

Fikotová eventually competed for the United States and went on to take part in four more Olympic Games, in 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972. At the Munich Olympics in 1972 she was chosen as the flag bearer of the U.S. team, becoming the first non-American-born athlete to carry the flag for the country. After her sporting career she worked as a teacher and became involved in social and environmental causes.

Olga Fikotova-Connoly|Photo: Ľubomír Smatana, Czech Radio

After Fikotová died in April 2024, her family decided to donate part of her personal archive to the National Museum. The materials, including scrapbooks, photo albums and personal items such as a discus, were transferred to the museum last November and processed in its depositories.

The ceremonial handover took place only last week. Explaining the decision to return the medal, her daughter said the family believed it ultimately belonged in the country where it was won.

“In her will she left only a few treasured items to her children, her gold medal, two small sports medals, and a gold watch she received for winning in Melbourne.

Olga Fikotova-Connolly with her medal|Photo: Ája Bufka, Radio Prague Int.

“Though these items have little monetary value, the value they hold for us is priceless. But we also know that her medal, though left to us, belongs to her people.

“Olga told us that she won it for her people and for her homeland. And so it is our great honour to return it today to the Czech Republic after seventy years.”

Starting in June, the gold medal will go on public display as part of the National Museum’s exhibition on the history of the 20th century.