Denny Morrison gives Olympic silver medal to speed skating teammate Gilmore Junio

Their story is part of Canada's Olympic Games lore.

Canadian speed skater Gilmore Junio vacated his spot in the men's 1,000 metres in the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, so his teammate Denny Morrison could race it.

Morrison handed over the silver medal he won to Junio at Calgary's Olympic Oval on Saturday, when a banner was raised honouring Morrison's career during World Cup racing there.

"I wanted to give my medal to Gilmore because our stories are so intertwined," Morrison said. "I thought it was an appropriate time, as my banner is literally being raised to the rafters forever.

"I couldn't have won a silver medal without what he did for me. Thank you is not enough."

Junio introduced Morrison during the ceremony, and Morrison stunned him by handing over the medal.

"I was really surprised," Junio said. "Denny has been one of my best friends for a long time, so to get this from him means a lot."

What a special moment here at the Oval.<br><br>Denny Morrison is about to be inducted into the Hall of Champions. He flips the script and announces a Gilmore Junio bursary for teammate of the year.<br><br>And then gives him his Olympic silver from 2014. Gil gave Denny his spot in that race. <a href="https://t.co/U23mpWJYT3">pic.twitter.com/U23mpWJYT3</a>

Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., also won an Olympic bronze medal in the 1,500 metres in Sochi, team pursuit gold in Vancouver in 2010 and team pursuit silver in 2006 in Turin, Italy. He retired in 2020.

Calgary's Junio, a three-time Olympian, retired after the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

Morrison, 39, is a third-year medical student at the University of Alberta. He also announced Saturday a teammate award in Junio's name and a $2,500 bursary annually for the next decade