Young boy sends Canadian relay team letter, medal after they were disqualified

A young Newfoundland boy sent a sweet letter of support and medal to his country’s relay runners after they were disqualified from a race at the London Olympics.

Canada’s 4×100 men’s relay team finished third at the London Games, but they were disqualified and missed out on a bronze medal after judges noticed that sprinter Jared Connaughton, who was running the third leg, stepped on the lane line.

10-year-old Elijah Porter felt badly for the team, so he sent them a letter and Timbits medal he earned by participating in a Canadian youth sports program, to lift their spirits.

His letter says:

Dear Justyn, Gavin, Jarred [sic], and Oluseyi,

I’m Elijah Porter. I’m ten and I live in Newfoundland, Canada. 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. We create better lives for each other. The cold didn’t stop us from living in the North. We didn’t lose the War of 1812. We adapt and survive. We have earned our freedom. Someday, if I become a biologist, if I get rich, and, if I remember, I will donate money to the summer and winter Canadian Olympians. I hope you like the medal!

Elijah Porter

Between Elijah Porter, and youngsters like this Miami Heat fan, we’re seeing that young fans can sometimes provide the type of innocent support and uplifting spirit many of us need.

H/T Hot Clicks, transcription via Deadspin
Photo via Justyn Warner