Jacobi said he was humbled and grateful for the many messages he received from both friends and strangers after they learned the medal was taken.



"To see all the messages that came back out way and to see how many people felt it was very special -- you instantly saw the goodness and kindness of the Olympic spirit that we remember so well," Jacobi said.



An Olympic gold medal is of course worth much more than its weight in gold, but the amount of gold in the medal is not very much.



Jacobi says whoever took the medal should return it and show their Olympic spirit.



"In the midst of this bad choice, there's an opportunity to make a good one," Jacobi said. "Someone has this medal they can return not to me but to us."