The International Olympic Committee awarded Bindra this honour during its 142nd session.
Indian shooting legend Abhinav Bindra was on Saturday awarded the prestigious Olympic Order in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Olympic movement. Bindra created history when he became India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finishing first in the 10m air rifle shooting event. The International Olympic Committee conferred this honour on Bindra during its 142nd session.
“When I was a little boy, it was those Olympic rings that gave my life meaning,” Bindra said.
India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist, Vice-Chairman of the IOC Athletes’ Commission @Abhinav_Bindra was awarded the prestigious Olympic Order in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Olympic Movement. pic.twitter.com/j0hbtCqAPy
— IOCMEDIA (@iocmedia) 10 August 2024
“And it has been a privilege to be able to pursue my Olympic dream for over two decades. After my sporting career, it was a great passion of mine to try to give something back to the Olympic movement. It has been a privilege and an honour,” he added.
The 41-year-old, who is also Vice-Chairman of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, expressed his gratitude for being awarded the prestigious Olympic Order, saying that this recognition is a source of inspiration for him to redouble his efforts and continue to make significant contributions to the Olympic Movement.
Established in 1975, the Olympic Order is the highest award given to individuals for their exceptional commitment and service to the Olympic Movement.
Bindra has competed in five Summer Games, beginning with Sydney 2000. His first notable success came in Athens 2004, when he reached the final of the men’s 10m air rifle event.
His greatest success came in Beijing in 2008, where he defeated defending champion Zhu Qinan of China to win the gold medal. Although he only finished fourth in Rio in 2016, Bindra’s remarkable performances have cemented his reputation in the sport.
Since 2018, Bindra has been a key member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, underlining his commitment to promoting the values of the Olympic movement.
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