Following a flurry of angry calls and emails from parents of Olympic athletes, the International Olympic Committee has discontinued the 118-year tradition of only awarding the top three competitors of each event with gold, silver, and bronze medals. As of Friday, all London 2012 Olympians will automatically be given a gold medal just for participating and trying their best.
“We really wanted to foster an environment of self-esteem and social development, in which all Olympic athletes are valued equally and nobody’s feelings get hurt,” said local activist mom Heidi Linderman-Strader, whose 26-year-old son went home crying in 2008 after placing 17thin last year’s men’s high jump event.
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