Athletics Legend Snell’s Singlet Sells for $100,000

New Zealand’s national museum Te Papa has bought the singlet New Zealand athletics legend Peter Snell wore when he won two gold medals at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics for NZ$140,000 ($100,000) in an auction, as reported in an article in The Daily Mail.

“It’s a great thrill for New Zealand and an item that has so much to tell us about our history, and the history of sport,” said Rick Ellis, Te Papa chief executive.

Auckland auctioneer Cordy’s estimated the singlet would fetch NZ$50,000, as reported in the Daily Mail. Te Papa initially paid a NZ$122,500 hammer price, “which rose to NZ$140,875 when a buyer’s premium was included.”

The museum is planning to display the singlet at the museum publicly later on.

Snell, who was named New Zealand’s athlete of the century in 2000, won the 800m and 1500m in Tokyo, which made him the second man to claim the double at the same Games. Four years earlier he won the 800m in Rome.

Article Source: Daily Mail, June 20, 2016

Image Source: Twitter – TePapa