Zaire, Bronze Sporting Merit Medal

Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire, was the name of a sovereign state between 1971 and 1997 in Central Africa that is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1997 they issued this bronze medal for Sporting Merit. It comes with the original ribbon in red, green and gold, the national colours of Zaire. The obverse features a male athlete holding a palm branch with the Arms of the country to his right and a diving board to the left. The reverse is inscribed MERITE SPORTIF and is surrounded by 12 small stars and the words REPUBLIQUE DU ZAIRE.