Personalized Simone Biles pins have become one of the “treasures” of the Paris Olympics, with athletes “begging” to be able to exchange them with the gymnastics icon.
Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, brought to Paris a package of gold pins, which are shaped like hearts and engraved with the American’s name.
It has long been a tradition for athletes to exchange trinkets and souvenirs; the custom is said to date back to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
This summer, Biles’ pins are said to be among the most sought after. The 27-year-old will go for more gold in Paris in the team all-around final on Tuesday night.
New Zealand rugby sevens player Tysha Ikenasio managed to get hold of one of the pins, but only after “begging” the gymnast to change it.
Simone Biles’ custom pins have become one of the ‘treasures’ of this summer’s Olympics
Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, brought a pack of gold pins to the Paris Games
“I had to go up to him and beg him to take one of our New Zealand pins and then he said he would give me a personal pin,” Ikenasio, 26, explained.
“Okay, but is a PERSONALIZED Simone Biles Olympic pin the BEST pin? Lucky Tysha Ikenasio!” Team New Zealand wrote on social media.
German gymnast Pauline Schafer posted a photo of the pin she took from Biles and wrote: “This one is special. Thank you, Simone.”
Scott Bregman, social media producer for the Olympic Channel, told Olympics.com: ‘I knew I had to have one.
She added: “A custom pin like the one Biles is wearing at these Games is something of a novelty.”
Scott Bregman, Olympic Channel social media producer, said: “I had to have one.”
‘It has also quickly become one of the most sought-after treasures here, at least until gold medals are awarded.’
NBA star Stephen Curry was seen exchanging pins while on the Team USA boat during Friday’s opening ceremony, while Team Great Britain’s men’s tennis players have been competing to collect the most pins from the country.
Serena Williams was a self-proclaimed “world-class pin collector” and the tennis legend began her collection in Sydney in 2000.
Williams got a pin from North Korea at Rio 2016 and later insisted: “I would never, ever, ever change it.”