Lynn Williams, one of the standout stars who helped Team USA secure an Olympic gold medal in women’s soccer, recently shared a lighthearted yet unfortunate mishap involving her prized possession. The medal, which represents the pinnacle of her athletic achievements, has now, in her own words, become “the world’s most expensive coaster.”
Following Team USA’s triumphant victory in the Olympic final earlier this month, Williams, 31, took to Instagram to reveal that the ribbon holding her gold medal had broken off. Now, in a detailed account, she’s explaining exactly how the unexpected damage occurred.
In a TikTok video posted on Thursday, August 22, Williams recounted the events that led to the medal’s unfortunate breakage. “Your medal [has] a little string on it, and there was a bar on the edge that was holding the ribbon onto my neck,” she began. “Obviously, you guys all saw me swinging the thing around [pretending to play discus with the trophy]. Ironically, that’s not how it broke.”
Williams clarified that while her playful antics may have contributed to the eventual damage, the real culprit was her post-match celebration. “I’m sure [swinging it around] didn’t help, but that’s not how it broke. So, I was swinging it around, it was on [and] it was fine,” she explained. “Then, we were dancing — I think we were playing ‘Strut’ [from The Cheetah Girls 2] actually — but I had it on my shoulder like a little purse. I was just jumping, dancing, and [when] I jumped down, it just fell off.”
The moment the medal hit the ground, Williams realized something was wrong. “I was roaming around, trying to get my medal off the ground,” she continued. “It has a dent now, so it’s definitely one-of-a-kind, and the little bar’s gone. I don’t know what happened, but the bar got loose and it fell out.”
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Although Williams admitted that her earlier actions might have weakened the medal, she was quick to question the durability of the Olympic hardware. “I just think that they should have made these better,” she remarked. “They should have made them more sturdy and, honestly, I can’t be faulted for that. So, I don’t know if I’m gonna get it fixed. We are waiting to hear from the [International Olympic Committee].”
According to Williams, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) indicated that she could “likely” receive a replacement medal if she can prove the original was indeed damaged. “Right now we’re just waiting to see,” Williams said. “But, honestly, I think it’s a cool, funny story. I have a little gold medal.”
Despite the mishap, Williams remains proud of her achievement and the journey that led her to Olympic glory. She and her Team USA teammates secured their victory over Brazil in the final on August 10, with Mallory Swanson’s game-winning goal sealing their place in history.
Swanson’s husband, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, also expressed his pride and admiration for his wife’s incredible accomplishments, which included reaching 100 caps and winning an Olympic gold medal on the same day. “God is so good. Always and forever. You are such an inspiration to so many, but more to me than anyone can ever fathom,” he wrote on Instagram. “Your faith in God’s plan, gratitude in life, the grace and joy in which you live and play, the perseverance to fight through whatever obstacles thrown your way. You are truly a gift from above, and you shine with that every day. I’m speechless. And now you’re a gold medal, Olympic champion, and 100 caps in the same day. And that can never be taken from you.”
For Williams, the story of her broken medal adds a unique and personal chapter to her Olympic experience, one that she’ll undoubtedly share for years to come.
