Olympic Games
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See also : Sport Sport II Origins of sports Ice hockey Sport document Sport rewards and medals Medal and decoration Autograph Michael Jordan
See also : Sport Sport II Origins of sports Ice hockey Sport document Sport rewards and medals Medal and decoration Autograph Michael Jordan
1892 Coubertin's Address
2019 SOLD for $ 8.8M by Sotheby's
In 1888 the 25-year-old publicist Pierre de Coubertin decides to concentrate all his efforts on the integration of sport into educational systems. Traumatized by the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, he sees sport as a means to ensure peace in the world. The moment is good : the extension of the railroad has favored inter-city sports confrontations in several countries, and the telegraph facilitates the preparations.
With a remarkable open-mindedness, Coubertin compares the progress of sport in several countries. In England, the country of the fair play, football is a team sport practiced in colleges, including Rugby, and the establishment of official rules allows competitions. In Sweden the mental benefit of gymnastics is officially recognized. In the United States, sport opens the way to the practice of collective recreation. He does not like the use of sport for military training in Germany but recognizes its heroic character.
The time is also favorable for meetings of thematic clubs in England and France. They will support the development of the Coubertin project. In 1891 he promulgates a motto : citius, fortius, altius (later modified in its sequence). Coubertin is setting the example : on March 20, 1892 he is the referee in the final of the first French rugby championship.
Taking as a pretext the fifth anniversary of a running club, a conference is organized at the Sorbonne on November 25, 1892, with three speakers. Bourdon and Jusserand tell the history of the sport. Coubertin, entrusted for dealing with modern sport, concludes his speech by proposing the reestablishment of the Olympic Games.
In this seminal address, Coubertin's vision is universal. The most developed nations will help the others. It is a matter of practicing sports in common between athletes of all nations with a search for the individual excellence, but not yet of international competition or rewards.
The autograph draft of this Coubertin thesis, largely modified by the author in the preparation phase, was sold for $ 8.8M from a lower estimate of $ 700K by Sotheby's on December 18, 2019, lot 173.
Very remarkably, despite necessarily different visions of his international interlocutors, it is Coubertin himself who will concretize his concept. A January 1894 autograph document defining the stadium and sports passed at Goldin Auctions on October 29, 2016. In June 1894, Pierre de Coubertin creates the International Olympic Committee.
Pierre de Coubertin's Olympic Address (commonly known as The Olympic Manifesto or his 1892 speech/manifesto) was sold by Sotheby's in New York on December 18, 2019, as Lot 173 in the "Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including the Olympic Manifesto" auction. This 14-page autographed manuscript in French was Coubertin's original handwritten draft (with inscriptions and corrections) of his keynote address delivered on November 25, 1892, at the annual meeting of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (Union of French Athletic Sports Societies) in Paris at the Sorbonne. It marked his first public call for the revival of the ancient Olympic Games after nearly 1,500 years.Auction Details
The address passionately advocated for the re-establishment of the Olympic Games as a modern international festival of athletics, education, and moral/physical development. Coubertin argued that reviving the Games would promote physical education in schools (inspired by British models), foster international understanding among youth, and counterbalance the militarism and nationalism of his era through peaceful competition.
Key themes included:
"The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." (Original French: "L’important dans la vie ce n’est point le triomphe, mais le combat, l’essentiel ce n’est pas d’avoir vaincu mais de s’être bien battu.") This encapsulated his emphasis on participation, effort, and moral growth over mere victory.
The speech initially met with limited enthusiasm, but it laid the groundwork for the 1894 Sorbonne Congress, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded and the first modern Games set for Athens in 1896.
Intention and Biography of Coubertin
Pierre de Coubertin (full name: Charles Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin; born January 1, 1863, in Paris; died September 2, 1937, in Geneva) was a French aristocrat, educator, historian, and humanist. Influenced by the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), he sought ways to strengthen French youth through physical education. He admired British public schools' emphasis on sports and American collegiate athletics.
His primary intention was educational reform: to integrate sport into schooling to build character, discipline, and international goodwill. He viewed the revived Olympics not as mere competitions but as a "state of mind" (Olympism) promoting harmony, peace, and the balanced development of body and mind ("mens sana in corpore sano"). A pacifist and internationalist, he aimed to channel national rivalries into athletic rather than military arenas, creating a global festival every four years. He co-founded the IOC in 1894, served as its president (1896–1925), and shaped its rituals and ideals.
Global Legacy of the Olympic Games Project
Coubertin's vision transformed the Olympics into the world's largest peaceful international event, held every four years (with interruptions for wars), involving nearly every nation and billions of viewers. The modern Games emphasize:
This episode underscored the immense cultural and historical value of Coubertin's work, turning a once-overlooked speech into one of the most expensive documents ever sold.
With a remarkable open-mindedness, Coubertin compares the progress of sport in several countries. In England, the country of the fair play, football is a team sport practiced in colleges, including Rugby, and the establishment of official rules allows competitions. In Sweden the mental benefit of gymnastics is officially recognized. In the United States, sport opens the way to the practice of collective recreation. He does not like the use of sport for military training in Germany but recognizes its heroic character.
The time is also favorable for meetings of thematic clubs in England and France. They will support the development of the Coubertin project. In 1891 he promulgates a motto : citius, fortius, altius (later modified in its sequence). Coubertin is setting the example : on March 20, 1892 he is the referee in the final of the first French rugby championship.
Taking as a pretext the fifth anniversary of a running club, a conference is organized at the Sorbonne on November 25, 1892, with three speakers. Bourdon and Jusserand tell the history of the sport. Coubertin, entrusted for dealing with modern sport, concludes his speech by proposing the reestablishment of the Olympic Games.
In this seminal address, Coubertin's vision is universal. The most developed nations will help the others. It is a matter of practicing sports in common between athletes of all nations with a search for the individual excellence, but not yet of international competition or rewards.
The autograph draft of this Coubertin thesis, largely modified by the author in the preparation phase, was sold for $ 8.8M from a lower estimate of $ 700K by Sotheby's on December 18, 2019, lot 173.
Very remarkably, despite necessarily different visions of his international interlocutors, it is Coubertin himself who will concretize his concept. A January 1894 autograph document defining the stadium and sports passed at Goldin Auctions on October 29, 2016. In June 1894, Pierre de Coubertin creates the International Olympic Committee.
Pierre de Coubertin's Olympic Address (commonly known as The Olympic Manifesto or his 1892 speech/manifesto) was sold by Sotheby's in New York on December 18, 2019, as Lot 173 in the "Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including the Olympic Manifesto" auction. This 14-page autographed manuscript in French was Coubertin's original handwritten draft (with inscriptions and corrections) of his keynote address delivered on November 25, 1892, at the annual meeting of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (Union of French Athletic Sports Societies) in Paris at the Sorbonne. It marked his first public call for the revival of the ancient Olympic Games after nearly 1,500 years.Auction Details
- Auction House: Sotheby's New York.
- Date: December 18, 2019.
- Lot: 173.
- Description: A 14-page manuscript (inked in black on ruled paper, with some corrections and additions), titled in Coubertin's hand, representing the foundational text for the modern Olympic Movement. It had been rediscovered (notably after a flea market search in some accounts) and was offered publicly for the first time.
- Pre-Auction Estimate: $700,000–$1,000,000.
- Sale Result: Sold for $8,806,500 (including buyer's premium), far exceeding the high estimate (nearly 9 times over) and setting a world auction record for sports memorabilia (surpassing items like Babe Ruth's jersey). Bidding lasted about 12 minutes.
- Buyer: Anonymous (private collector; no public revelation of identity in subsequent reports).
- Context in Sale: The lot was a highlight of a dedicated books and manuscripts auction, emphasizing its historical significance as the "blueprint" for the modern Olympics.
The address passionately advocated for the re-establishment of the Olympic Games as a modern international festival of athletics, education, and moral/physical development. Coubertin argued that reviving the Games would promote physical education in schools (inspired by British models), foster international understanding among youth, and counterbalance the militarism and nationalism of his era through peaceful competition.
Key themes included:
- The educational value of sport for character-building and youth.
- The need for an international, periodic event to unite nations.
- A vision of athletics as a "grandiose and beneficent work."
"The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." (Original French: "L’important dans la vie ce n’est point le triomphe, mais le combat, l’essentiel ce n’est pas d’avoir vaincu mais de s’être bien battu.") This encapsulated his emphasis on participation, effort, and moral growth over mere victory.
The speech initially met with limited enthusiasm, but it laid the groundwork for the 1894 Sorbonne Congress, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded and the first modern Games set for Athens in 1896.
Intention and Biography of Coubertin
Pierre de Coubertin (full name: Charles Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin; born January 1, 1863, in Paris; died September 2, 1937, in Geneva) was a French aristocrat, educator, historian, and humanist. Influenced by the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), he sought ways to strengthen French youth through physical education. He admired British public schools' emphasis on sports and American collegiate athletics.
His primary intention was educational reform: to integrate sport into schooling to build character, discipline, and international goodwill. He viewed the revived Olympics not as mere competitions but as a "state of mind" (Olympism) promoting harmony, peace, and the balanced development of body and mind ("mens sana in corpore sano"). A pacifist and internationalist, he aimed to channel national rivalries into athletic rather than military arenas, creating a global festival every four years. He co-founded the IOC in 1894, served as its president (1896–1925), and shaped its rituals and ideals.
Global Legacy of the Olympic Games Project
Coubertin's vision transformed the Olympics into the world's largest peaceful international event, held every four years (with interruptions for wars), involving nearly every nation and billions of viewers. The modern Games emphasize:
- International unity and cultural exchange.
- Amateurism (originally; evolved over time).
- Educational and moral values beyond winning.
- Symbols like the Olympic rings, flame, and creed.
This episode underscored the immense cultural and historical value of Coubertin's work, turning a once-overlooked speech into one of the most expensive documents ever sold.
#AuctionUpdate Moments ago in our #NYC salesroom, the original Olympic Games manifesto soared to $8.8 million, more than 8.5x its $1 million high estimate following a 12-minute bidding battle. The manifesto outlines Pierre de Coubertin's vision for reviving the ancient games. pic.twitter.com/xoR4uAzs2t
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) December 18, 2019
1896 Athens Silver Cup of Spyridon Louis
2012 SOLD for £ 540K by Christie's
In 1896, the first major international multi-sport festival takes place in Athens. It takes as reference the games of ancient Greece. Designed and organized by Coubertin, the modern Olympic Games were born.
Two unprecedented events provide a link with antiquity and exacerbate the Greek patriotism : the discus throw (won by an American) and the marathon running.
Thirteen Greeks and four foreigners have dared to compete in this endurance race. The people and the king welcomed with an extraordinary burst of joy the victory of Spyridon Louis, a humble water carrier from the Athens suburb. This modern Cincinnatus returned to his farm after his feat.
The silver cup, 15 cm high, which was awarded to Spyridon Louis had been kept by his family. It was sold for £ 540K from an estimate of £ 120K by Christie's on April 18 2012, lot 32.
Two unprecedented events provide a link with antiquity and exacerbate the Greek patriotism : the discus throw (won by an American) and the marathon running.
Thirteen Greeks and four foreigners have dared to compete in this endurance race. The people and the king welcomed with an extraordinary burst of joy the victory of Spyridon Louis, a humble water carrier from the Athens suburb. This modern Cincinnatus returned to his farm after his feat.
The silver cup, 15 cm high, which was awarded to Spyridon Louis had been kept by his family. It was sold for £ 540K from an estimate of £ 120K by Christie's on April 18 2012, lot 32.
#Olympics2016 have begun! Here's the cup presented to the winner of the 1896 marathon: https://t.co/KHMCUYCoZ2 pic.twitter.com/8odpssRbZi
— Christie's Books (@ChristiesBKS) August 6, 2016
1936 Berlin Gold Medal of Jesse Owens
2013 SOLD for $ 1.47M by SCP
Jesse Owens is passionate about running. At the age of 15, he meets Charley Paddock, Olympic champion of the 100 metres in Antwerp in 1920. Paddock compensated for an ordinary morphology by an innovative race strategy, finishing the sprint with a jump on the rope.
Owens also does not have an exceptional build. He is developing a fast stride with a minimal foot contact on the track. This innovation is very effective for sprint, long jump and hurdling. He reaches the top level in May 1935, winning four events in 45 minutes, during which he breaks or equals six world records.
He is obviously qualified for the Berlin Olympics in 1936. At first the challenge is for the sport. The Olympic Games are the best place to confirm that he is the fastest man in the world. The public is waiting for an exploit from him.
The mental state of Jesse Owens in competition is phenomenal. His records of 1935 were obtained despite a very painful back following an accidental fall. In Berlin, he manages similarly to ignore the psychological pressure. He wins four gold medals : 100 metre dash, long jump, 200 metres and 4 x 100 metre relay.
This grandson of slaves who was born in Alabama became a hero for the whole African-American community and is still now one of the most popular symbols of the Nazi abuse. On this last point, the reality is different. Owens himself stated that Hitler had not been hostile to him. Hitler was willing to admit that Negroes had morphologic features that enabled them to win. Earlier in these games, the Chancellor had only congratulated German athletes. His advisers made him understand that it was a blunder and he therefore decided to stop calling any winner.
Off the stadium, he is an African-American at a time of severe race discrimination. The amateurism doctrine in sport is ruthless. Upon his return from the Berlin Games, he seeks financial compensation and is excluded from all amateur events. His sports career is over.
At the time of the Berlin Games, the medals of the winners are struck in a unique model, with no identification of the sport and of course of the name of the laureate. The winning medals are in gold plated silver. Replicas were also released for some laudable uses. The authentication of a Berlin Games medal requires an impeccable provenance and an analysis by a specialized expert.
Two of the four medals of Jesse Owens have been confirmed as genuine by James Greensfelder, author of a reference guide to Olympic medals. One of them, presented by the champion to tap dancer Bojangles, was sold for $ 1.47M by SCP on December 7, 2013. It is not known which of his four wins is related to this award. Please watch the video commented by Darren Rovell for the ESPN specialized sport channel.
At the time of that auction, the other medals were not located. Another one resurfaced. It had been gifted by Owens to a weightlifter, as a reward for helping him to make speeches in public meetings in the 1950s and 1960s. It was sold for $ 600K as lot 1 by Goldin on December 7, 2019.
Owens also does not have an exceptional build. He is developing a fast stride with a minimal foot contact on the track. This innovation is very effective for sprint, long jump and hurdling. He reaches the top level in May 1935, winning four events in 45 minutes, during which he breaks or equals six world records.
He is obviously qualified for the Berlin Olympics in 1936. At first the challenge is for the sport. The Olympic Games are the best place to confirm that he is the fastest man in the world. The public is waiting for an exploit from him.
The mental state of Jesse Owens in competition is phenomenal. His records of 1935 were obtained despite a very painful back following an accidental fall. In Berlin, he manages similarly to ignore the psychological pressure. He wins four gold medals : 100 metre dash, long jump, 200 metres and 4 x 100 metre relay.
This grandson of slaves who was born in Alabama became a hero for the whole African-American community and is still now one of the most popular symbols of the Nazi abuse. On this last point, the reality is different. Owens himself stated that Hitler had not been hostile to him. Hitler was willing to admit that Negroes had morphologic features that enabled them to win. Earlier in these games, the Chancellor had only congratulated German athletes. His advisers made him understand that it was a blunder and he therefore decided to stop calling any winner.
Off the stadium, he is an African-American at a time of severe race discrimination. The amateurism doctrine in sport is ruthless. Upon his return from the Berlin Games, he seeks financial compensation and is excluded from all amateur events. His sports career is over.
At the time of the Berlin Games, the medals of the winners are struck in a unique model, with no identification of the sport and of course of the name of the laureate. The winning medals are in gold plated silver. Replicas were also released for some laudable uses. The authentication of a Berlin Games medal requires an impeccable provenance and an analysis by a specialized expert.
Two of the four medals of Jesse Owens have been confirmed as genuine by James Greensfelder, author of a reference guide to Olympic medals. One of them, presented by the champion to tap dancer Bojangles, was sold for $ 1.47M by SCP on December 7, 2013. It is not known which of his four wins is related to this award. Please watch the video commented by Darren Rovell for the ESPN specialized sport channel.
At the time of that auction, the other medals were not located. Another one resurfaced. It had been gifted by Owens to a weightlifter, as a reward for helping him to make speeches in public meetings in the 1950s and 1960s. It was sold for $ 600K as lot 1 by Goldin on December 7, 2019.
1980 Lake Placid Jersey of Mike Eruzione
2013 SOLD for $ 660K by Heritage
The Miracle on Ice refers to one of the most iconic upsets in sports history: the United States men's ice hockey team's shocking 4–3 victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union on February 22, 1980, during the medal round of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
This game, amid the Cold War tensions (including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S.-led boycott threats), transcended sports to become a symbol of American resilience, underdog triumph, and national unity. The U.S. team—composed mostly of college players and amateurs—defeated a Soviet squad that had dominated international hockey for nearly two decades (winning four straight Olympic golds and using state-supported "amateurs" who were effectively professionals).
Background and Build-Up
The U.S. team was coached by Herb Brooks, a University of Minnesota legend who had been cut from the 1960 U.S. gold-medal squad. Brooks selected a roster heavy on Minnesota talent (12 of 20 players) and emphasized speed, conditioning, and a innovative "herringbone" system to counter the Soviets' superior skill.The Americans entered the Olympics as underdogs:
Path to Gold
Two days later (February 24), the U.S. defeated Finland 4–2 (coming from behind after trailing 1–2) to claim the gold medal—the first U.S. men's hockey gold since 1960. The Soviets took silver.
Roster Highlights
This game, amid the Cold War tensions (including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S.-led boycott threats), transcended sports to become a symbol of American resilience, underdog triumph, and national unity. The U.S. team—composed mostly of college players and amateurs—defeated a Soviet squad that had dominated international hockey for nearly two decades (winning four straight Olympic golds and using state-supported "amateurs" who were effectively professionals).
Background and Build-Up
The U.S. team was coached by Herb Brooks, a University of Minnesota legend who had been cut from the 1960 U.S. gold-medal squad. Brooks selected a roster heavy on Minnesota talent (12 of 20 players) and emphasized speed, conditioning, and a innovative "herringbone" system to counter the Soviets' superior skill.The Americans entered the Olympics as underdogs:
- They tied Sweden 2–2, beat Norway 5–1, Romania 7–2, and West Germany 4–2–3.
- A key pre-Olympic exhibition loss to the Soviets (10–3) underscored the gap.
- The Soviet team featured stars like Vladislav Tretiak (goaltender), Valeri Kharlamov, and Boris Mikhailov.
- First period: U.S. stunned early with goals by Buzz Schneider and Mark Johnson (son of legendary coach "Badger" Bob Johnson), tying it 2–2 despite being outshot 12–6.
- Second period: Soviets took a 3–2 lead; Tretiak was surprisingly pulled after allowing Johnson's second goal (replaced by Vladimir Myshkin).
- Third period: Johnson tied it at 3–3 early. Captain Mike Eruzione scored the go-ahead goal at 10:00 (his only Olympic goal), assisted by Mark Pavelich and John Harrington.
- Final minutes: Goalie Jim Craig made crucial saves; the U.S. held on as the Soviets failed to pull their goalie despite trailing.
- Final score: USA 4, USSR 3.
- Iconic call by broadcaster Al Michaels: As the clock wound down, "Do you believe in miracles? YES!"
Path to Gold
Two days later (February 24), the U.S. defeated Finland 4–2 (coming from behind after trailing 1–2) to claim the gold medal—the first U.S. men's hockey gold since 1960. The Soviets took silver.
Roster Highlights
- Key players: Jim Craig (goaltender, tournament MVP), Mike Eruzione (captain), Mark Johnson (top scorer), Ken Morrow, Mike Ramsey, Neal Broten, Dave Christian.
- Many went on to NHL careers (e.g., Morrow won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders; Ramsey played over 1,000 games).
- Widely called the greatest sports moment of the 20th century (Sports Illustrated, 1999).
- Boosted U.S. hockey participation dramatically—youth registration surged, leading to more American NHL stars in later decades.
- Inspired generations; recent U.S. teams (including the 2026 Olympic gold winners) reference it as motivation.
- Cultural touchstone: Featured in the 2004 film Miracle (Kurt Russell as Brooks), documentaries, and ongoing retrospectives (e.g., Netflix's Miracle: The Boys of '80).
- Symbolized hope during U.S. challenges; it remains a pinnacle of Olympic drama and patriotism.
Often, international politics arise behind sport. When the International Olympic Committee selected Lake Placid for the 1980 Winter Games and Moscow for the Summer Games of the same year, no one could predict the extreme tension which will be generated by the events in Afghanistan.
Winter Games are taking place normally, but already the United States begin to organize a boycott of Moscow. In the stadium, the flagship competition becomes the ice hockey, the fastest of all team sports, where Soviet domination is overwhelming for two decades.
The ice hockey competition gathers twelve national teams, each made up of twenty players. The tournament begins with a first round of two groups of six teams. The United States qualifies painstakingly but they have the best goalkeeper, Jim Craig.
In the final phase, the United States meets the Soviet Union on February 22. Before the match, no one disputes the supremacy of the Soviets, supported by their government. Faced with this experienced team, the USA align young university players who had never played together before the Olympics. It is also the end of an era : the dogma of amateurism, required from the outset by the Olympic Charter, will be repealed in 1981.
Ten minutes before end, the US captain Mike Eruzione gives the advantage to his team by a magnificent shot. Under an incredible fervor of the public, the last ten minutes during which the Americans confirm their domination by a strategy of attack are a piece of sports anthology. The USA wins by a score of 4-3. The ABC broadcast commentator yells into his microphone : "Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles ? YES !". This extraordinary match is then known as the Miracle on Ice.
Eruzione had kept his equipment, which were separated into several lots by Heritage on February 23, 2013. The top lot is the jersey worn by him for the Miracle on Ice. It was sold for $ 660K, lot 80002.
Another jersey was sold for $ 287K. It had been game worn by Eruzione when he was awarded the gold medal. A stick was sold for $ 263K, lot 80001.
Please watch the video shared by Heritage to introduce the sale of the Miracle on Ice, courtesy of ABC Sports.
The Miracle on Ice is not the final event of the tournament. The last two games are played on February 24, 1980. The USSR crushes at 9-2 the Sweden which had achieved a 2-2 draw with the Americans in the first round.
Mistreated by Finland, the young Americans ended by winning this match 4-2 and therefore won the competition. It was a great day for Steve Christoff, who scored the 1-1 tie goal and assisted the final goal scored by Mark Johnson. Each of the twenty US players receives a gold medal inscribed in his name.
In 2006 and 2007 Christoff successively sold through a specialized broker his gold medal and his game worn jersey from the decisive match against Finland. These two lots were listed by Goldin on February 22, 2020. The medal was sold for $ 320K, lot 2 and the jersey for $ 117K, lot 3. The medal was sold for $ 375K on February 4, 2023 by SCP, lot 4.
Mark Wells sold his gold medal of the Miracle on Ice in private sale for a reported amount of $ 40K. Soon after, it was the first of the twenty to appear at auction. It was sold for $ 310K by Heritage on November 5, 2010, lot 81421.
Mark Pavelich had scored two of the four assists in the game against the Soviets, including the winning assist to Mike Eruzione. He was the first to auction his own medal. It was sold for $ 263K by Heritage on May 16, 2014, lot 82422.
Winter Games are taking place normally, but already the United States begin to organize a boycott of Moscow. In the stadium, the flagship competition becomes the ice hockey, the fastest of all team sports, where Soviet domination is overwhelming for two decades.
The ice hockey competition gathers twelve national teams, each made up of twenty players. The tournament begins with a first round of two groups of six teams. The United States qualifies painstakingly but they have the best goalkeeper, Jim Craig.
In the final phase, the United States meets the Soviet Union on February 22. Before the match, no one disputes the supremacy of the Soviets, supported by their government. Faced with this experienced team, the USA align young university players who had never played together before the Olympics. It is also the end of an era : the dogma of amateurism, required from the outset by the Olympic Charter, will be repealed in 1981.
Ten minutes before end, the US captain Mike Eruzione gives the advantage to his team by a magnificent shot. Under an incredible fervor of the public, the last ten minutes during which the Americans confirm their domination by a strategy of attack are a piece of sports anthology. The USA wins by a score of 4-3. The ABC broadcast commentator yells into his microphone : "Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles ? YES !". This extraordinary match is then known as the Miracle on Ice.
Eruzione had kept his equipment, which were separated into several lots by Heritage on February 23, 2013. The top lot is the jersey worn by him for the Miracle on Ice. It was sold for $ 660K, lot 80002.
Another jersey was sold for $ 287K. It had been game worn by Eruzione when he was awarded the gold medal. A stick was sold for $ 263K, lot 80001.
Please watch the video shared by Heritage to introduce the sale of the Miracle on Ice, courtesy of ABC Sports.
The Miracle on Ice is not the final event of the tournament. The last two games are played on February 24, 1980. The USSR crushes at 9-2 the Sweden which had achieved a 2-2 draw with the Americans in the first round.
Mistreated by Finland, the young Americans ended by winning this match 4-2 and therefore won the competition. It was a great day for Steve Christoff, who scored the 1-1 tie goal and assisted the final goal scored by Mark Johnson. Each of the twenty US players receives a gold medal inscribed in his name.
In 2006 and 2007 Christoff successively sold through a specialized broker his gold medal and his game worn jersey from the decisive match against Finland. These two lots were listed by Goldin on February 22, 2020. The medal was sold for $ 320K, lot 2 and the jersey for $ 117K, lot 3. The medal was sold for $ 375K on February 4, 2023 by SCP, lot 4.
Mark Wells sold his gold medal of the Miracle on Ice in private sale for a reported amount of $ 40K. Soon after, it was the first of the twenty to appear at auction. It was sold for $ 310K by Heritage on November 5, 2010, lot 81421.
Mark Pavelich had scored two of the four assists in the game against the Soviets, including the winning assist to Mike Eruzione. He was the first to auction his own medal. It was sold for $ 263K by Heritage on May 16, 2014, lot 82422.
1984 Olympics by Basquiat and Warhol
2012 SOLD for £ 6.8M by Phillips de Pury
In 1984 Warhol and Basquiat created a series of large size paintings together. The joint artworks of the experienced pop art leader and of the rising star merged their two styles.
Warhol would start by painting a commercial image and then Basquiat would add his own youthful exuberance. Warhol started with a highly recognizable figure like a newspaper headline or a product logo. Basquiat added his imagery which was amended by Warhol and so on, something like a friendly conversation in paint.
Sport was a favorite theme of Basquiat. Olympics, painted by both artists in 1984 at the time of the Los Angeles Olympic Summer Games, is based on the five Olympic rings, half hidden by a multitude of heads in various colors that represent the variety of races attending the games.
Olympics, acrylic on canvas 192 x 310 cm, was sold for £ 6.8M by Phillips de Pury on June 28, 2012, lot 8. The image is shared by Wikipedia.
Warhol would start by painting a commercial image and then Basquiat would add his own youthful exuberance. Warhol started with a highly recognizable figure like a newspaper headline or a product logo. Basquiat added his imagery which was amended by Warhol and so on, something like a friendly conversation in paint.
Sport was a favorite theme of Basquiat. Olympics, painted by both artists in 1984 at the time of the Los Angeles Olympic Summer Games, is based on the five Olympic rings, half hidden by a multitude of heads in various colors that represent the variety of races attending the games.
Olympics, acrylic on canvas 192 x 310 cm, was sold for £ 6.8M by Phillips de Pury on June 28, 2012, lot 8. The image is shared by Wikipedia.
1984 Big Snow by Basquiat
2023 SOLD for £ 4.05M by Sotheby's
In his pantheon of African-American champions, Basquiat mostly referred to boxers with Sugar Ray Robinson ranking first. For baseball he honored Hank Aaron.
Keen of narrating the race relations, the artist could not miss Jesse Owens and his legendary walk behind Hitler's tribune at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936, although the story told by the champion did not confirm a disdain of the Führer against him.
An acrylic and oilstick on canvas 169 x 153 cm painted in 1984 twice refers to Jesse Owens - Berlin 1936 along an Olympics with a voluntary misspelling corrected in the signature graffiti style of the artist. The five Olympic rings are displayed in vivid colors. A mask could be a fancy expression of Owens. In the lower left a comic figure reminds the boxer Jersey Joe Walcott.
This opus is titled Big Snow referring to a background of much stylized snowy mountains reminding a happy stay in St. Moritz where Jean-Michel visited Bischofberger in the winter of 1983. It was sold for £ 4.05M by Sotheby's on June 27, 2023, lot 144.
Keen of narrating the race relations, the artist could not miss Jesse Owens and his legendary walk behind Hitler's tribune at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936, although the story told by the champion did not confirm a disdain of the Führer against him.
An acrylic and oilstick on canvas 169 x 153 cm painted in 1984 twice refers to Jesse Owens - Berlin 1936 along an Olympics with a voluntary misspelling corrected in the signature graffiti style of the artist. The five Olympic rings are displayed in vivid colors. A mask could be a fancy expression of Owens. In the lower left a comic figure reminds the boxer Jersey Joe Walcott.
This opus is titled Big Snow referring to a background of much stylized snowy mountains reminding a happy stay in St. Moritz where Jean-Michel visited Bischofberger in the winter of 1983. It was sold for £ 4.05M by Sotheby's on June 27, 2023, lot 144.
1992 Barcelona basketball US Dream Team
Intro
The 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, universally known as the Dream Team, is widely regarded as the greatest collection of basketball talent ever assembled. This squad, competing at the Barcelona Summer Olympics, marked a historic shift: for the first time, active NBA professionals were allowed to represent the U.S., following FIBA's rule change ending the amateur-only era.
Coached by Chuck Daly (then of the Detroit Pistons), the team went 8-0, dominating every opponent by an average margin of 44 points per game (the second-highest in Olympic history). They scored 100+ points in every contest, never called a timeout during games, and won gold with a 117-85 victory over Croatia in the final. The roster featured 11 future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers (plus coach Daly), and the team itself was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (2009), Naismith Hall of Fame (2010), and FIBA Hall of Fame (2017).
Roster
The 12-player squad included:
Key Moments and Performance
The Dream Team transformed basketball into a truly global sport. Before 1992, the NBA was primarily U.S.-centric; afterward, international interest exploded:
Coached by Chuck Daly (then of the Detroit Pistons), the team went 8-0, dominating every opponent by an average margin of 44 points per game (the second-highest in Olympic history). They scored 100+ points in every contest, never called a timeout during games, and won gold with a 117-85 victory over Croatia in the final. The roster featured 11 future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers (plus coach Daly), and the team itself was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (2009), Naismith Hall of Fame (2010), and FIBA Hall of Fame (2017).
Roster
The 12-player squad included:
- Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) – Often the face of the team.
- Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers, retired but returned for Olympics post-HIV diagnosis).
- Larry Bird (Boston Celtics) – Co-captain with Johnson.
- Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns) – Leading scorer (18.0 PPG).
- Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls).
- Karl Malone (Utah Jazz).
- John Stockton (Utah Jazz).
- Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks).
- David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs).
- Clyde Drexler (Portland Trail Blazers) – Final pro spot added.
- Chris Mullin (Golden State Warriors).
- Christian Laettner (Duke University) – The lone college player (chosen over Shaquille O'Neal).
Key Moments and Performance
- Debut vs. Angola: 116-48 blowout.
- Close calls were relative: Closest game was vs. Croatia in group stage (103-70).
- Off-court drama included intense practices (e.g., the "Select Team" of college stars like Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway beat them once in scrimmage).
- Cultural phenomenon: The team was mobbed globally; Jordan's Air Jordans became symbols in places like Lithuania and China.
The Dream Team transformed basketball into a truly global sport. Before 1992, the NBA was primarily U.S.-centric; afterward, international interest exploded:
- Sparked massive growth in Europe (e.g., EuroLeague), Asia (China's boom), and Latin America.
- Inspired generations: Players like Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Manu Ginóbili, and Tony Parker cite the Dream Team as motivation to pursue pro careers.
- Elevated the NBA's worldwide brand (global viewership, merchandising, academies).
- Set the standard for future U.S. Olympic teams (though none matched its dominance or star power).
- Symbolized U.S. athletic supremacy post-Cold War, while showcasing basketball's universal appeal.
1
Jordan's Jersey
2023 SOLD for $ 3M by Goldin
Amateurism had been the cornerstone of the Olympic Games. Things changed after 1984 as an opposition to the Soviet practice of training full time amateurs. At the Seoul Games in 1988 professionals were authorized to play tennis. Basketball was won by the Soviets amidst the Cold War with the USA achieving a disappointing bronze.
The US basketball was convinced to present a professional team at Barcelona in 1992. 11 players were selected by the NBA and one place was left to an amateur as a reminder to the obsoleted rules.
The NBA had at that time the most talented basketball players in the world. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were selected as co-captains. The Olympic number of Michael Jordan was the 9 instead of his usual 23 within the NBA.
The result was astonishing with all games won in a mean difference of 44 points. The then nicknamed Dream Team was collectively awarded many honors.
The semifinal was won 127-76 against Lithuania. At that time basketball equipment was not considered as sports relics. After the game the 12 jerseys had been thrown on the floor. The wife of Karl Malone, one of the twelve, picked them, simply. The Malones had them signed by the respective player and collected a pair of sneakers from any of them, worn in various other games from the same Olympics.
The whole collection treasured by Malone in plain sight in his car dealership in Utah will be sold by Goldin on May 25, 2023. Nine jerseys are photo-matched. Jordan's jersey was sold for $ 3M, lot 1.
Also from the Malone collection, a pair of sneakers game worn by Jordan during the 1992 Olympics was sold for $ 420K by Goldin on May 25, 2023, lot 2. This specific Nike Air Jordan (Jumpman) pair is photo-matched with the game against Puerto-Rico in the Pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas. USA won 119-81.
The US basketball was convinced to present a professional team at Barcelona in 1992. 11 players were selected by the NBA and one place was left to an amateur as a reminder to the obsoleted rules.
The NBA had at that time the most talented basketball players in the world. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were selected as co-captains. The Olympic number of Michael Jordan was the 9 instead of his usual 23 within the NBA.
The result was astonishing with all games won in a mean difference of 44 points. The then nicknamed Dream Team was collectively awarded many honors.
The semifinal was won 127-76 against Lithuania. At that time basketball equipment was not considered as sports relics. After the game the 12 jerseys had been thrown on the floor. The wife of Karl Malone, one of the twelve, picked them, simply. The Malones had them signed by the respective player and collected a pair of sneakers from any of them, worn in various other games from the same Olympics.
The whole collection treasured by Malone in plain sight in his car dealership in Utah will be sold by Goldin on May 25, 2023. Nine jerseys are photo-matched. Jordan's jersey was sold for $ 3M, lot 1.
Also from the Malone collection, a pair of sneakers game worn by Jordan during the 1992 Olympics was sold for $ 420K by Goldin on May 25, 2023, lot 2. This specific Nike Air Jordan (Jumpman) pair is photo-matched with the game against Puerto-Rico in the Pre-Olympic Tournament of the Americas. USA won 119-81.
2
Jordan's Reebok Jacket
2023 SOLD for $ 1.5M by Sotheby's
The coming of professionalism into the Olympic Games generated new sorts of incidents involving trade marks.
Michael Jordan was the natural leader of the US basketball team, not without reluctance. He did not accept being the captain, for reason of official visibility.
The awarding of the gold medal to the Dream Team made Jordan furious. Reebok was a major sponsor of the Games and required some visibility to their brand as a feedback. The Executive Director of the United States Olympic Committee stated that no medal reception was possible unless the player wore a Reebok jacket during the ceremony. Jordan felt that constraint as a disloyalty against his career long business partner Nike.
Jordan wore the Reebok jacket but used safety pins to hide the Reebok logo. As an additional precaution he draped the right side of the garment in a US flag. After the ceremony he loudly claimed that he did not want the jacket and tossed it to the NBA Public Relations executive, to whom he dedicated and signed it at some time.
Coming from the collection of that NBA officer, the one of a kind Reebok jacket of Michael Jordan was sold for $ 1.5M from a lower estimate of $ 1M by Sotheby's on June 28, 2023, lot 1. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Michael Jordan was the natural leader of the US basketball team, not without reluctance. He did not accept being the captain, for reason of official visibility.
The awarding of the gold medal to the Dream Team made Jordan furious. Reebok was a major sponsor of the Games and required some visibility to their brand as a feedback. The Executive Director of the United States Olympic Committee stated that no medal reception was possible unless the player wore a Reebok jacket during the ceremony. Jordan felt that constraint as a disloyalty against his career long business partner Nike.
Jordan wore the Reebok jacket but used safety pins to hide the Reebok logo. As an additional precaution he draped the right side of the garment in a US flag. After the ceremony he loudly claimed that he did not want the jacket and tossed it to the NBA Public Relations executive, to whom he dedicated and signed it at some time.
Coming from the collection of that NBA officer, the one of a kind Reebok jacket of Michael Jordan was sold for $ 1.5M from a lower estimate of $ 1M by Sotheby's on June 28, 2023, lot 1. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
3
the US Flag on Jordan's Shoulder
2024 SOLD for $ 1.8M by Sotheby's
As narrated above, Michael Jordan wrapped a US flag on his right shoulder for hiding the Reebok reference of his jacket during the gold medal ceremony.
This piece of polyester, cotton and nylon 120 x 180 cm has been signed by all the twelve members of the Dream Team.
Photo-matched by MeiGray and by Sports Investors Authenticated, it was sold for $ 1.8M by Sotheby's on November 4, 2024, lot 2.
This piece of polyester, cotton and nylon 120 x 180 cm has been signed by all the twelve members of the Dream Team.
Photo-matched by MeiGray and by Sports Investors Authenticated, it was sold for $ 1.8M by Sotheby's on November 4, 2024, lot 2.
4
Bird's Jersey
2026 SOLD for $ 900K by Sotheby's
Larry Bird's game-worn and signed 1992 Dream Team jersey ($896,000 at the Sotheby's auction from Scottie Pippen's collection):
- Sotheby's auction of Scottie Pippen's memorabilia collection fetched $6.2 million on March 10, 2026, with 75% of lots exceeding estimates amid 2,567 bids, reflecting the sports memorabilia market's 8.3% annual growth projection through 2033.
- Record prices included Larry Bird's game-worn and signed 1992 Dream Team jersey at $896,000, lot 3, topping prior Olympic basketball jersey sales, and Pippen's 1997 NBA Finals Flu Game Bulls jersey at $486,400, tied to Michael Jordan's iconic illness-overcoming performance.
Larry Bird's game-worn and signed 1992 Dream Team jersey ($896,000 at the Sotheby's auction from Scottie Pippen's collection):
- Photo-matched games: This jersey is photo-matched specifically to one game—the Dream Team's final group-stage match against Spain on August 2, 1992. Team USA dominated with a 122–81 victory. Bird contributed 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in that game. Authentication was provided by PSA (with additional signature verification from James Spence Authentication). No other specific photo-matched games are documented for this particular jersey in auction records or reports.
- Role and action as co-captain of the Dream Team: Larry Bird served as co-captain alongside Magic Johnson (Michael Jordan declined the captaincy when initially suggested by coach Chuck Daly). As one of the veteran leaders on a star-studded roster, Bird provided guiding presence, steadied the team, reinforced its culture, and demonstrated veteran leadership. Despite significant back issues limiting his playing time and production at age 35, his symbolic role as a bridge between eras (representing the NBA's established greatness) helped unify the squad and elevate the team's global impact. He was respected enough that younger stars like Jordan deferred to him and Magic for leadership.
- Significance in his career: This jersey represents the final chapter of Bird's playing career and his only Olympic appearance. The 1992 Barcelona Olympics marked his last competitive basketball games before retiring in August 1992 due to chronic back problems. The Dream Team's gold medal run (undefeated dominance) added an international championship to his resume, complementing his three NBA titles (1981, 1984, 1986), three MVPs (1984–1986), and Hall of Fame inductions (individual in 1998; with the Dream Team in 2010). It symbolized his enduring legacy as one of basketball's greatest forwards, a clutch performer, and a key figure in popularizing the NBA globally through the Dream Team's revolutionary impact.
