In advance of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, which includes matches in the New York area, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has opened the exhibition, “For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence,” a celebration of the artistry, history, and cultural impact of iconic athletic mementos. It includes more than 70 championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry spanning more than a century of sports history. One of the oldest items is Jim Thorpe’s 1912 Olympic medallion. More current pieces include the New York Liberty’s 2024 WNBA Championship trophy and Breanna Stewart’s 2024 Championship ring.
There is a section for trailblazers. Among the items is one of Jesse Owens’ gold medals from the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and his 1976 Presidential Medal of Freedom. At a time when Adolf Hitler saw the Olympics as a showcase for white supremacy, Owens’ four gold medals proved that a Black man could triumph. His granddaughter, Gina Hemphill-Strachan, was at the opening of the exhibition.
“What he did on the track and what he meant to people off of the track has come full circle, and it is so lovely that he’s still celebrated and that he’s celebrated through different generations,” said Hemphill-Strachan. “For us as a family, it’s important to continue his legacy for those who may not know who he is and what he accomplished. It’s really quite wonderful. There was no social media then, so it’s all about an accomplishment that was meaningful for everybody.”
At the exhibition’s media preview, two-time Super Bowl champion Justin Tuck and boxer Claressa Shields, the only American boxer to win two Olympic gold medals and an 18-time World Champion, joined astrophysicist and director of the AMNH’s Hayden Planetarium Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson in a thoughtful conversation about the power of sports. Shields took time to savor the exhibit and remarked how she likes to be around the energy of athletic excellence.
“Because this exhibit spans over 150 years of history and across so many sports, I was thinking about what the unifying thing is,” said guest curator Vikki Tobak. “I just kept coming back to this culture of winning and being great at something. … Understanding the unifying rituals that we as humans do together, and then the symbols that we create to show that. So, whether it’s a championship trophy, a ring, or an Olympic medal, that is the commonality that makes humans strive to be the best.”