Courtesy of recently retired swimmer Hannah Fitton
Available: Forty-four cherished swimming trophies looking for a new home. Trophies come in a variety of sizes and color, with a hint of chlorine. If interested, please contact a former swimmer and her parents.
Forty-four shiny trophies are precariously lined up on top of my wooden bookcase. Countless colorful ribbons and medals – the contents of a now empty eighteen-gallon plastic tub – are sprawled across my bedroom floor. And I am sitting in the middle of this mess feeling very overwhelmed.
On February 22nd 2014, I “retired” from competitive swimming. Three months later, I graduated from Colgate University and returned home to Wisconsin. Swimming has been a part of my life for over eleven years. And in those eleven years, I have accumulated quite a few awards, posters, and other swimming memorabilia. But now, at the insistence of my parents and my own self-realization, it is time to close that chapter of my life and move on. I need to reduce my personal stash of aquatic “stuff.”
Yesterday, I organized my ribbons and medals by events, place, and color. I recalled past swim meets, old teammates and friends, and the spirit of a feisty girl who did not want to be beat. I found my first individual event ribbon, my first high point trophy, and my first state champion medal. I set aside these sentimental awards to keep and preserve.
But what about the countless other awards I cannot keep? I called local trophy stores about possibly donating trophy parts and received a very adamant no. An online search about donating swimming awards to non-profit organizations or even on the process of how to recycle medals proved fruitless and unclear.
One trophy store even recommended that I throw away my awards. Discard my awards into the garbage and landfills as if they do not represent the hours I spent in the pool? I can’t do that.
I ask for the swimming community to discuss, debate, and answer this question.
What can swimmers do with our old awards – ribbons, medals, and trophies?
I am brainstorming alternative solutions to repurpose my medals and trophies. Many medals are of generic swimming designs and the trophy nameplates can be changed. Perhaps there are swimming organizations looking for a few donated awards to inspire new swimmers? Could I send my medals to a scrap metal or a recycling station? I am interested in discovering what other swimmers, parents, and coaches have done with their old awards. Through this article, I hope to create an ongoing dialogue about possible solutions and creative alternatives.
What can swimmers do with our old awards? We can store them in the basement. We can display them proudly in our bedrooms. But at some point in our lives, we will have to let go of these awards while honoring the memories. I believe my awards deserve a second life. I want my awards to go somewhere useful – to inspire a new swimmer, to support a worthy organization, or to be recycled into new materials. So let’s start a conversation, brainstorm together solutions, and keep our old awards environmentally friendly and out of landfills.
I’m a professional organizer, with a heavy emphasis on decluttering, and swam ages 5-18 competitively (along with my four other sisters who did the same). Not even two years ago, we together went through our combined 55 years of swim team medals, event ribbons, heat ribbons, personal best ribbons, trophies, and plaques and man…what a waste. Even the most accomplished of us who swam at Texas A&M (during winning years) did not care for any of her memorabilia. It was just stuff. Sitting in a box. And we are also a very creative bunch, we thought about making blankets, but would we even use the blanket? No. We thought about making a mural wall but the upkeep and dusting of… Read more »
I’am looking to replace a swimming trophy that my kids broke many years ago.It looks like now that my kids have grown up,they would like to have some of Dads old trophies.Swimmer in starting position,(man)standing on a round base on a wood or bakelite square tower.Total height of about 10 inches.Swimmer was probably potmetal gold colored plated.Can you help me? PS.Brass rectangular plate with info on it.From the 1960’s. Thanks,Walt
i am with you and would love to hear/ look for ideas. Some local Boys and Girls clubs will take. If anyone knows that would be awesome!!
For recycling medals (with or without ribbons attached), check out Sports Medal Recycling in South Attleboro, MA. For trophies and plaques, TC reTrophy in Minneapolis.
I ran across your post in an effort to recycle some beautiful awards I received while working the Space Shittle Program. In today’s, “trash it” mentality, I see a common desire. All awards are forged from some specific material and that material should be re-usable, somehow, in some way, not to be dumped in a landfill.
Donate them at ribbonrecycling.com
Just found this site! Cute stuffed animals made from ribbons. Frames and scrapbook album covers. http://drivelivestock.com/2013/12/03/10-creative-ways-display-ribbons/
I have been searching for ideas as well. Found some ideas on Pinterest but still looking for actual directions 1. Making a pillow, quilt, or bed runner out of ribbons 2. Tying ribbons around a string of mini Christmas lights to decorate kids room. Also still looking for ideas for medals and trophies. I love thefree cycle idea. Yanks for putting this up. I’m tired of the bags and boxes.