Olympic medals represent the pinnacle of athletic achievement, sought after through years, even decades, of relentless dedication. Only the world’s elite athletes ever manage to claim one of these coveted prizes.
Given the immense effort and emotional investment, it’s quite astonishing to discover that these gleaming symbols of triumph often find their final resting place in a surprisingly ordinary spot: a humble sock drawer.
Alex Hall, a 27-year-old slopestyle skier, found his 2022 gold medal tucked away under a stack of socks and thermal underwear. “My parents suggested a safe, but that seemed excessive,” he shared. “It’s been a while since it saw any daylight,” he quipped, now pondering where to stash his recently acquired silver medal.
Even legends like Mikaela Shiffrin, the extraordinary Alpine skier with three Olympic medals, and Ryan Lochte, the second most decorated swimmer in Olympic history with twelve medals, are known to store their awards in sock drawers. Christopher Mazdzer, a luger, keeps his 2018 silver medal alongside everyday items like belts and ties in an IKEA dresser.
“Oh, and some sunglasses too,” Mazdzer casually mentioned.
For new medalists, like American figure skater Danny O’Shea who recently won gold in the team event, the idea of parting with their prize is unimaginable. He laughed when asked about its storage, stating, “Around my neck for as long as humanly possible!”
However, as years turn into decades, the initial fierce attachment often softens into a more relaxed, almost nonchalant attitude towards these prized possessions.
Chris Fogt, a 2014 silver medalist in bobsledding, articulated this sentiment: “Every Olympian dreams of standing on that podium with a medal. But with time, you realize the journey itself, the immense effort and growth, often becomes more significant than the prize.”
Beyond sock drawers, other common ‘unremarkable’ storage spots include desk drawers or simple nightstands, mingling with miscellaneous items. Valerie Fleming, a former bobsledder, rotates her 2006 silver medal between her kitchen drawer and her nightstand, a habit shared by Mr. Fogt.
These unassuming storage choices are often attributed to a blend of practicality, a lack of ostentation, and a desire for easy access. Many Olympians simply don’t have the inclination or resources to create elaborate trophy rooms, a luxury more commonly associated with highly paid professional athletes.
“I’m just not a showy or flashy person,” explained Matt Antoine, a skeleton racer, whose 2014 bronze medal is currently residing in a closet sock drawer.
Interestingly, his medal now boasts a custom pouch, handcrafted by his mother—a significant upgrade from its former, less formal, actual sock ‘casement’.
He’s not alone in this habit; Oksana Masters, an incredible Paralympian with 19 medals, and Jack Wallace, a two-time Paralympic hockey gold medalist, also favor storing their accolades within socks.
Jessie Diggins, who recently added a bronze medal in the 10-kilometer freestyle cross-country skiing event, keeps her earlier three Olympic medals nestled inside a hat at her parents’ house. She noted their scuffs and scratches, a testament to her generous habit of letting children admire and handle them.
This practice points to another common rationale: many Olympians view their medals not as personal trophies, but as communal treasures meant to be shared. A sock drawer, after all, is always easily accessible for a quick show-and-tell.
“Sure, it could sit in a pristine display case forever,” remarked Tyler George, a 2018 curling gold medalist, “but then we’d miss out on sharing it with the thousands of people who get to see, hold, and even wear it.”
Yet, some past proponents of the sock drawer method have had a change of heart.
Ryan Lochte, for instance, recently sold three of his medals. He stated that he “never swam for the gold medals” themselves, viewing them instead as merely “a cherry on top” of his illustrious swimming career.
Mirai Nagasu, a figure skater who earned a bronze medal in 2018, underwent a ‘self-reflection’ last summer that led to a significant decision.
Nagasu recounted how seeing the memorabilia of two-time figure skating medalist Michelle Kwan during her training years had deeply inspired her. Motivated by this, she donated her own medal to the Skating Club of Boston last July, hoping to ignite similar inspiration in aspiring young skaters.
Could more Olympians be persuaded to emancipate their medals from their hidden confines? Matt Antoine admitted his wife occasionally urges him to give his medal a more prominent spot in their home.
“So, perhaps there will come a time when I display it a bit more, show it off a little,” he mused.
Ashley Caldwell and her husband, Justin Schoenefeld, who together clinched gold in mixed team aerial skiing in 2022, initially thought about custom display cases. However, as time went on, their interest waned.
Ultimately, the nightstands flanking their bed became the chosen, and quite fitting, resting places for their gold medals.
“We sleep surrounded by two Olympic gold medals,” Caldwell shared with a sense of quiet satisfaction. “It feels pretty good.”