Police seized stolen Olympic medals from Gella Vandecaveye « after two house searches »

Relief at the Gella Vandecaveye house. The former Judoka will soon be able to retain its stolen Olympic medals. Last Friday they appeared again for the first time in a year and a half, on the second hand website. There they were offered for sale at a starting bid of 5 euros, but that amount soon went up.

The medals still seemed in perfect condition and were carefully portrayed on the basis of several photos. « Silver original medal from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta with box, » says one of the two.

Stolen

The East Flanders public prosecutor immediately started an investigation to be able to trace the medals and the seller. This has led to two house searches in Antwerp, with a positive result, according to the public prosecutor. « The medals were found and a lot is done to put Mrs. Vandecaveye back in possession of the medals that she and her arrive only after a great sports performance. The way in which the seller has received the medals and the further involvement of third parties is now being investigated. »

Vandecaveye, which silver at the Atlanta (1996) and bronze Olympic Games in Sydney (2000), reacts relieved on Facebook. « My Olympic medals were seized by the police from Zone Border (Wuustwezel, Kalmthout, Essen) and are now being transferred to the public prosecutor! Soon the original specimens will be back at home! »

The former Judoka lost her two Olympic medals in October of 2023. The facts occurred when Vandecaveye had parked her car in a parking lot on Brussels-Zuid for a trip to Paris. Because she would immediately give a judo initiation on your return, her silver and bronze slice were in her car. Together with her toolbox and judo suit, these were stolen.

(Aba, LLA)