Where Olympians Keep Their Medals

Olympic medals represent years of dedication and sacrifice. Athletes spend decades pursuing these prestigious awards, yet many champions store them in remarkably ordinary places.

Alex Hall, a slopestyle skier, keeps his 2022 gold medal beneath socks and thermal underwear. "My parents wanted me to get a safe for it, but that sounded ridiculous," he explained. Ryan Lochte, the second most decorated male swimmer in Olympic history with 12 medals, also uses a sock drawer. Christopher Mazdzer stores his 2018 silver medal alongside belts, ties, and sunglasses.

Why such casual storage? Many athletes cite modesty and accessibility. "I'm just not a showy, flashy type of person," said Matt Antoine, who keeps his bronze medal in a sock. Others view their medals as community assets meant to be shared. Tyler George, a curling gold medalist, noted that thousands of people have held his medal. "It could stay in a fancy case all our lives," he said, "but we wouldn't get to share it."

For these champions, the journey matters more than the prize itself.