Lynn Williams, forward for the U.S. women’s national soccer team, had an unexpected twist to her celebration after clinching gold at the recent Olympics. In a TikTok post on Wednesday, Williams revealed that her gold medal did not survive the exuberant festivities following the team’s victory.
The 31-year-old athlete was filming in her kitchen when she shared the story of how her medal was damaged during the squad’s celebratory party. As part of the undefeated team that triumphed over Brazil 1-0 in the final of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Williams humorously recounted that her medal became the “most expensive coaster.”
Originally featuring a bar for the ribbon that hung around her neck, the medal now stands as a testament to her celebratory misadventures. Williams explained that while she was dancing at the Nike celebration party, with the medal draped over her shoulder like a makeshift purse, it fell off during an energetic jump. Despite her attempts to retrieve it from the dance floor, the medal sustained a noticeable dent.
Showing the damage to her fans, Williams described the altered medal as now being “one-of-a-kind” due to its new imperfections. Her team has reached out to the International Olympic Committee to discuss the possibility of repairing or replacing the damaged award.
In a light-hearted comment, Williams suggested that the medals should have been designed to be more durable, jokingly implying that she shouldn’t be held responsible for its mishap.