Presented here is a lovely second place winner’s silver medal from the 1920 Antwerp Summer Olympics awarded to Belgium for Men's Gymnastics. The 1916 Olympic Games were canceled due to WW1, but following the 1918 Armistice, the 1920 Games resumed as scheduled. The Olympic flag was flown for the first time at these Belgium Games that starred Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi and USA’s Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, who later became known as the "Godfather of Surfing." This exquisite silver medal was one of 400 issued for the Games of the VII Olympiad.

In gymnastics, only men were allowed to compete at these Games. It wasn't until the 1928 Amsterdam Games that a women's gymnastics event officially became part of the Olympic program. In the Men's Team All-Around, Italy won gold followed by Belgium in second and France in third. This silver medal was presented to Hubert Lafortune, whose name is engraved on one side. The Lafortunes built quite an Olympic legacy family for their home country of Belgium. Two of his brothers and one nephew combined to make 16 Olympics in shooting from 1924 to 1976.

The obverse shows a victorious Olympic athlete holding a laurel branch, with Fame blowing her horn in the background and "VII OLYMPIADE" at the bottom. In addition to the recipient's name, the reverse has "ANVERS MCMXX" at the top with a monument of Antwerp commemorating the legend of Braba along with the Cathedral and Port of Antwerp in the background. Designer "Josue Dupon" is engraved on both sides. Made entirely of silver, the medal was minted by Coosemans. Diameter is 60 mm and weight is 86 grams. It shows moderate to heavy wear and appears to have been polished due to its smoothed over, shiny surface. Overall, the medal remains in fine shape for being struck over a century ago. Very few winners' medals of any kind from the 1920 Games come up for auction.