Dude... It's an olympic gold medal.... It's recognised across the world as the pinnacle of human achievement in sports competition.
Nah. You think soccer players reckon winning Olympic gold is the pinnacle of anything? Tennis players?
You're obviously right that the gold medal itself is universally acknowledged, but I hardly think SBW's (or any elite athlete's) concern is walking up to random people who have never heard of them and trying to convince them that they've achieved something.
If he wants maximum recognition and prestige, that comes from achievements which are recognised in the sporting sphere as being meaningful. No-one thinks winning the soccer Olympic gold means that much really. No-one with a clue is going to think that winning an Olympic gold (in 7s FFS!) in Union makes you some sort of global sporting star. It's a far, far less significant achievement than winning a RWC, for example.
It's like saying Lisa Carrington is a sporting superstar cos she won an Olympic gold. No-one knows who she is. It boosts her profile locally and within her sport but it doesn't mean "the sporting world" gives a shit about kayaking.
I have no doubt though that SBW probably believe that winning an Olympic Gold for a couple days of exhibition 7s while getting to Instagram photos of himself with beach volleyballers is probably a noble pursuit and Allah's will.
