Omalla won the gold medal as part of the Netherlands team that won the 4x400m mixed relay final in Paris—a race made famous by Femke Bol's incredible sprint in the final 200 metres.
Last week, news broke that Omalla's gold medal was being auctioned for unknown reasons. The sprinter's decision to auction caused some uproar among confused fans. On Monday, Omalla released a statement explaining his decision to sell the world-famous prize.
"I've seen the reactions surrounding the auction of my Olympic gold medal and would like to take a moment to speak to the Dutch public and media directly," said Omalla. "The Olympic Games, and that gold medal, will forever be one of the most significant accolades in my sporting career. The road it took - the sacrifices, the years of input, and the support from the Dutch national team - is something I'll proudly carry with me for the rest of my life.
This medal is a tangible symbol of all that work, the people who supported me along the way, and the power of dreams that become reality."
24-year-old Omalla replaced the injured Liemarvin Bonevacia during the 2024 Olympics. In the 4x400m mixed relay final, Omalla opened for the Dutch team before handing the baton off to Lieke Klaver. The Netherlands won gold with a time of 3:04.43, a European record and just 0.02 seconds above the world record.
'Not to enrich myself'
"Still, I understand that my decision to auction the medal came across to some as a deed of greed or lack of respect. That's why I want to clarify this: it is not about financial problems, and absolutely not to enrich myself. My motivation is and will always be my family's well-being and supporting others in need.
A big part of the yield will go to my parents' charity, Child's Destiny of Hope, an organisation committed to helping children in Uganda through education, healthcare, and life-improving support. The rest will be used to support my family, people who sacrificed everything so that I could chase my dreams."
Omalla is the son of a Dutch mother and Ugandan father. Born in the Netherlands, Omalla moved to Uganda at age 7 before moving again to attend a boarding school in Kenya at age 14. Omalla and his twin brother, Jaime, later attended McKendree University and Southeastern Louisiana University in the U.S. states of Illinois and Louisiana, where they received athletic scholarships for their talents.
"I realise I should've communicated this sooner. To my teammates, staff members, and everyone who felt hurt: I'm sorry it came across this way. This decision comes from love, responsibility, and gratefulness. Thanks for your understanding."
The medal, which Omalla auctions off at auction house Heritage Auctions, currently has a bid of $22,000 placed on it. The auction ends on Friday, May 17th.