New York, N.Y. – On May 15, the American Museum of Natural History will open For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence, a special exhibition that celebrates the artistry, history, and cultural impact of the world’s most coveted athletic prizes. The exhibition will open in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery, part of the Museum’s Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, and will showcase more than 70 championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry spanning nearly 150 years of sports history. For the Win opens in advance of FIFA World Cup 2026™ and kicks off World Cup, World Cultures: Celebrating the Community and Science of Sport, a series of programs and experiences at the Museum for New Yorkers and visiting fans from around the world.
“Sports have always been an important cultural expression, throughout history, across cultures, and in our present day. The Museum is proud to present this exhibition, which tells key stories from sports over the past 150 years through the world’s most coveted and spectacular athletic prizes,” said Museum President Sean M. Decatur. “These symbols of achievement are also cultural touchstones highlighting the ways sports interact with, influence, and inform larger society and how we live together.”
From the traditional medals and trophy cups of the early 20th century to the diamond-encrusted bling of the modern era, For the Win reveals the stories behind the iconic sports prizes that have come to represent ambition, achievement, and legacy. Through objects ranging from one of Jesse Owens’s gold medals from the 1936 Olympics in Berlin to New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart’s 2024 WNBA 2 Championship ring, the exhibition explores how moments of victory are transformed into lasting symbols of excellence that resonate far beyond the field of play.
“Excellence is rare. The objects in this exhibition are a celebration of the culture of winning—tangible reminders of the great athletes and champions who made greatness something the rest of us could see,” said For the Win Guest Curator Vikki Tobak, author and journalist. “Encountering these championship rings, Olympic medals, and trophies up close will be something visitors won’t soon forget.”
“The reaction from the sports community after we announced this exhibit was proof to me that this exhibition is necessary,” said Rich Kleiman, Boardroom CEO and co-founder, and For the Win senior advisor. “It was exciting to work alongside Vikki and curate a collection of some of the most cherished sports memories and winning celebrations of all time. The American Museum of Natural History is the perfect place to showcase the exhibition, and I can’t wait for people to experience it.”
Exhibition Organization and Highlights
For the Win is organized into the following thematic cases that trace how athletic greatness has been achieved, celebrated, and remembered across generations:
- Trailblazers: A tribute to pioneers whose achievements challenged barriers in sport and society. The section features Jim Thorpe’s commemorative medallion from the 1912 Games, when Thorpe became the first Native American to win Olympic gold; a 1936 Olympic gold medal awarded to Jesse Owens, whose victories at the Berlin Games became one of the defining moments in Olympic history; and a torch from the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City, where Mexican track-and-field athlete Enriqueta Basilio became the first woman to light the Olympic cauldron and U.S. Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during their award ceremony in protest of racial injustice.
- New York City: A showcase of the City’s local pride and civic identity, including the New York Liberty’s championship trophy for its historic 2024 WNBA title win, a Babe Ruth Crown given to Yankees legend Yogi Berra for his lifetime batting achievements, and New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck’s 2008 Super Bowl ring, which features diamond-studded Vince Lombardi trophies. Unique objects from other iconic New York sports franchises, the Mets and the Knicks, are also featured, including Red Holzman’s basketball-shaped gold fob, presented to the legendary head coach in 1973 for leading the Knicks to their last NBA championship.
- Opportunity: A celebration of women athletes whose extraordinary achievements have redefined excellence and opportunity across sports. Featured objects include Ali Krieger’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup medal, representing the U.S. Women’s National Team’s dominance on the global stage; Katie Ledecky’s 2025 USA Swimming Golden Goggles Award, recognizing a career that includes seven consecutive world titles; and the Seattle Storm’s 2020 WNBA Championship ring, whose design pays tribute to Breonna Taylor and the Say Her Name campaign.
- Victory: An introduction to the extraordinary moments of triumph commemorated by sports prizes. Objects on view include Kevin Durant’s 2017 Golden State Warriors NBA Championship ring, marking his first NBA title and unanimous Finals MVP performance; Ali Krieger’s 2023 NWSL Championship ring, celebrating the title she won as captain of NJ/NY Gotham FC; and Shaun White’s 2006 Olympic gold medal from his first snowboard halfpipe victory. The section also features Sarah Will’s Paralympic gold crown from the 1998 Nagano Games, honoring one of the most decorated American Paralympians in alpine skiing.
- The Art of Winning: An exploration of the craftsmanship and evolution of sports prizes, from historic cups to contemporary trophies and glittering symbols of achievement. This section brings together the NFL’s 2026 Vince Lombardi Trophy – an iconic symbol of Super Bowl victory – the 3 MLB World Series Commissioner’s Trophy, and two soccer trophies won by local clubs: the Philip F. Anschutz MLS Cup Trophy, won by New York City FC in 2021, and the NWSL Championship Trophy, won by NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2023. It also features championship belts, rings, chains, and personal jewelry, including Claressa Shields’s “T-Rex” WBO Middleweight Championship belt and Joc Pederson’s pearl necklace, a fashion statement that became a rallying symbol during the Atlanta Braves’ 2021 World Series run.
- Olympic Traditions: A look at how the Olympic Games have carried forward ancient symbols of victory and peace while developing new traditions that have come to define the Games today. Tracing more than a century of Olympic design, this section features a solid gold medal from the 1904 St. Louis Games, where the custom of awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals began; Kevin Durant’s 2024 Olympic gold medal, which contains iron from the Eiffel Tower; and torches and medals from other Games.
- Keepsakes: A look at more modest sports prizes and commemorative objects that preceded today’s diamond-studded championship rings. The section features bracelets, watches, tie clips, brooches, and plaques from basketball, tennis, and NASCAR, with highlights connected to the Boston Celtics dynasty and early NBA champions in Philadelphia and St. Louis.
For the Win is curated by Guest Curator Vikki Tobak in partnership with Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, Kevin Durant’s manager and co-founder of Thirty Five Ventures (35V), as senior advisor. Kate Kiseeva, associate curator in the Museum’s Division of Physical Sciences, is the curator of the Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals. The exhibition is included with general admission and is designed and produced by the Museum’s Exhibition Department.
World Cup, World Cultures: Celebrating the Community and Science of Sport
For the Win will launch a series of programming and experiences presented as the New York/New Jersey region prepares to host FIFA World Cup 2026.
Following the opening of For the Win, on Monday, May 18, the Museum will debut Goal Zone, an all-ages interactive play space that invites visitors to test their soccer skills through challenges and digital simulators. Beginning Thursday, May 28, the Museum will offer hands-on educational activities that explore the science of sports in two learning labs and the Global Sports Pavilion in the Ellen V. Futter Gallery.
Starting Thursday, June 11, the Museum will host FIFA World Cup 2026™ watch parties in iconic Museum galleries and theaters, offering spaces where fans can gather to experience the excitement of the global tournament together including at a special opening weekend celebration on Saturday, June 13. The programming series will also include a block party on Saturday, July 11.
For additional details and the schedule for World Cup, World Cultures, please visit the Museum’s website.
The Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals
For the Win is presented in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery, a space for rotating exhibitions within the Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals. The Mignone Halls feature specimens from the Museum’s world-renowned mineral and gem collection, including two of the largest amethyst geodes on public display, the legendary 563-carat “Star of India” sapphire, the 9-pound almandine Subway Garnet, and the 632-carat Patricia Emerald, among others.
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Photo: “The Art of Winning” displays Claressa Shields 2019 WBO Middleweight Championship Belt, the NFL’s Vince Lombardi Trophy, Major League Baseball World Series Commissioner’s Trophy, the NWSL 2023 Championship trophy awarded to NJ/NY Gotham FC, and the MLS Philip F. Anschutz Trophy awarded to New York City FC in 2021.
Alvaro Keding & Daniel Kim/©AMNH