Presented here is a rare and special pairing of a bronze winner's medal and corresponding third-place winner's diploma from the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics awarded to Soviet men's high jumper Rudolf Povarnitsyne, who at one point held the men's world record in the event. In Seoul, fellow Russian Hennadiy Avdyeyenko won the gold medal, with American Hollis Conway taking silver. Povarnitsyne actually tied with Sweden's Patrik Sjöberg in third place, so each competitor received a bronze medal. On the track at those Summer Games, Americans Florence Griffith Joyner, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Carl Lewis got the major headlines as each won multiple gold medals in their respective events.

Struck by the Korea Security Printing and Minting Corporation, this wonderfully preserved bronze medal measures 60 mm in diameter and 4-5 mm in thickness, with a weight of 130 grams including its ribbon. The obverse features the traditional design by Giuseppe Cassioli of a seated Nike, Goddess of Victory, with the Colosseum in the background and “XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988” in raised lettering. The reverse has a sleek modern design by the Seoul Organizing Committee portraying a soaring dove of peace with a laurel branch in its beak, and the Seoul Olympic emblem above. Etched along the bottom edge is the name of the event, "Athletics Men High Jump."

The original multi-striped ribbon (NM) in blue, red, yellow, and white is attached to a uniquely crafted loop at the top. The medal appears in EF condition with a nearly flawless surface and comes housed within its original purple velvet display case. The ceiling of the lid once opened bears a gold-embossed text reading, "Games of the XXIVth Olympiad Seoul 1988." A singular piece of Olympic athletic history.

The included 1988 Seoul Olympics diploma for Rudolf Povarnitsyne's 3rd place finish in men's high jump is a 12-1/8" by 13-3/4" document held within a an official "Diploma" folder with a gold-embossed stamp from the Seoul Organizing Committee. The folder has edge and corner wear, but the diploma inside has been well-protected and is crease-free.