Boy, 10, replaces Olympic medal for disqualified Canadian sprinters

GlobalPost

Elijah Porter, 10, watched along with millions of others as Olympic officials disqualified Canada's 4x100-meter relay team from the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics last weekend.

Yet, only Elijah was moved enough to offer up a replacement — the medallion he earned as a 6-year-old soccer player in Paradise, Newfoundland.

Elijah, who has Asperger's syndrome, sent his "Timbits" soccer medal and a letter telling the athletes how proud he was of their efforts.

“When I heard what happened on Aug. 11, I knew it was wrong. The rules were not right. But at last I realized how good you were. We’re Canadians. We persevere,” Elijah's letter said, according to The Toronto Star.

"I hope you like the medal," he added.

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Canada lost bronze because of Jared Connaughton's lane violation. Trinidad and Tobago finished third behind Jamaica and the US, instead.

The Canadian sprinters celebrated for seven minutes before officials made their decisions.

When sprinter Justyn Warner read Elijah's letter, he took a photograph and sent it out via Twitter.

Now, Elijah is fielding interview requests from across the globe.

"He's absolutely got a heart of gold, and I know that medal, that Olympic medal slipped through our hands, but having a young fella like Elijah step up and support us without thinking twice about it means a tremendous amount, and shows a huge amount of character for a 10 year-old," Connaughton told CBC.

The soccer league sponsor also heard about Elijah's selfless gesture.

Tim Hortons, Canada unofficial coffeehouse, sponsors Timbits hockey and soccer leagues for young children.

The company is sending Elijah a replacement medal and a new mountain bike.

"We're really proud of him," Tim Hortons representative Nicki Power told The Canadian Press.

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