Only a handful of athletes have won this rare Olympic medal - here are their stories

Gold, silver, and bronze aren't the only medals an athlete can win at the Olympics. 

A fourth medal - known at the Pierre de Coubertin medal - is awarded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to recognize those who demonstrate sportsmanship and Olympic spirit. It's named for Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the IOC.

And since the medal's introduction in 1964, it's been awarded a total of 17 times - sometimes to politicians and Olympic organizers, but mostly to athletes. The IOC has given the medal to athletes (either individuals or teams) 12 times in total. 

These are the inspirational stories of all the athletes who've earned this rare honor.