Overview
- The exhibition, which opens to the public Friday, presents more than 70 championship rings, medals, trophies and other artifacts spanning nearly 150 years.
- Guest curator Vikki Tobak secured rare loans from athletes, leagues and archives, including Jesse Owens’ 1936 Olympic gold medal and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
- Installed in the Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, the show treats winning artifacts as cultural touchstones that connect athletic achievement to materials and craft.
- Related programs include Goal Zone, an interactive soccer space, hands-on activities that explain the biomechanics of sport, and 2026 FIFA World Cup watch parties starting June 11.
- A launch panel with Neil deGrasse Tyson, boxer Claressa Shields and Super Bowl champion Justin Tuck set the tone for outreach that aims to bring new fans into the museum during a World Cup summer.