O’Connell said the support he received since the theft meant a great deal to him and his family.
“Since the medal was stolen, I’ve been humbled by the level of support and goodwill to find a solution,” O’Connell said.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the NZOC and the IOC for making this possible.”
O’Connell said the medal meant a “great deal” for his family’s second and third generations.
“Particularly around Olympic time, the medal normally goes on school trips; it’s really valuable to show kids what you can achieve, and the medal is a symbol of that,” he said.
“The kids love handling it, they love touching it, they love putting it around their neck. If that inspires someone to do something, that’s good.”
Despite having a replacement medal, O’Connell still hoped the original would resurface, as “it’s of no value to anyone else”.
“If there’s someone out there who has the medal or knows something, please do the right thing and return it,” he said.
The medal has been replaced after it was stolen during a burglary at his Christchurch home. Photo / NZ Olympic Committee
New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Nicki Nicol said she was pleased to source a replacement for O’Connell and his family.
“Winning an Olympic gold medal is something many athletes aspire to, but few have the honour of achieving,” she said.
“We’re grateful to the IOC for helping replace this special taonga for Les.
“These athletes helped shape New Zealand’s sporting legacy and their achievements continue to inspire generations of New Zealanders.”
O’Connell had won the medal as part of New Zealand’s men’s coxless four at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games after consecutive world championship titles.
“As we head back to Los Angeles in 2028, we do so with pride, following in the footsteps of what Les and his crew achieved there in 1984,” Nicol said.
It’s not the first time a member of the winning coxless four team has had their gold medal stolen.
In 2006, thieves broke into Shane O’Brien’s Sandringham home and took his gold medal, as well as the bronze and silver medals from the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, among other items.