On Tuesday afternoon, the 10-year-old boy who sent his soccer medal to Canada’s disqualified 4×100 relay team in August saw his thoughtfulness returned.
Elijah Porter sent a medal, along with a handwritten letter to Jared Connaughton, Gavin Smellie, Seyi Smith, and Justyn Warner after they finished in bronze medal position at London 2012, only to be disqualified for a lane violation.
On Tuesday, Connaughton and Smith repaid the kindness by paying Porter a surprise visit in Paradise, N.L.
A report from CBC.ca
detailed their visit to his Newfoundland home, where he showed them memorabilia and newspaper clippings that have crossed his path since his story spread across the country.
The idea for the trip came from Newfoundland’s David Howell. He personally looked after all the arrangements and covered the airfare for the athletes.
Director of Public Relations and Corporate Services for Athletics Canada Mathieu Gentès said in a statement Monday, “This is a great story and we’re happy to be a part of it, bronze would have been great too, but then we wouldn’t have got the chance to meet this wonderful boy in Newfoundland. We’re very thankful that Mr. Howell approached us with this idea.”