Drew Ginn’s medals – three gold and one silver – were looted from his Land Rover while parked in Melbourne‘s Docklands on September 6.
Ear buds, a wallet, camera and a wetsuit were among other items 47-year-old Luke Tones also stole from the vehicle.
CCTV footage showed Tones going through the boot, which was unlocked due to a fault.
Tones faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today, where he pleaded guilty to more than 50 charges relating to widespread theft and vehicle break ins.
He used Ginn’s bank cards to hire an e-scooter before spending $10 on food at Hungry Jacks.
Ginn said his medals had been left in the car after he gave a talk at a school hours earlier.
“They were hidden away in the car, but the car was ransacked completely, so lots of stuff was broken and destroyed,” Ginn told ABC Radio at the time.
The court was told the incident followed months of break-ins and attempted break-ins by Tones including a burglary in St Kilda where he threatened to stab a victim for attempting a citizen’s arrest.
Tones’ lawyer Rachelle Gorbachinska said he had been homeless for several years and was attempting to rehabilitate from drug use.
“Mr Tones has been incredibly remorseful and has wanted to face the court today,” she said.
Ginn was a member of the legendary Oarsome Foursome, a series of Australian rowing coxless four crews.
He took part in combinations which won gold at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and silver at London 2012.
He also won gold medals in pair events at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.
It was not revealed in court whether the medals had been recovered.
Tones will be sentenced at a later date.
