There are a lot of perks to being an Olympic athlete. In exchange for dedicating countless hours to their craft, often beginning when they are just young children, those who reach the Olympic level are showered with love from those who know them and their countries as a whole. They earn the opportunity to compete in front of thousands of fans in some of the most beautiful parts of the world. Those who reach the top three of their competitions are rewarded with an Olympic medal, one of the most prestigious awards a person can earn.

But not all awards are front and center. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, less than a 10-minute drive from the homes of the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks, rests another notable sports destination – the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame. The most significant recognition an American Olympian can receive is induction into the official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame, which is housed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, over 1,000 miles away. However, the Bobblehead Hall of Fame pays tribute to American stars, too, just in its own way.

The museum was first created in 2014 by two men, Phil Sklar and Brad Novak. Both had worked for big corporations, although Novak had experience working in independent league baseball, too. It was there, back in 2002, that his collecting passion began. After the duo initially launched the museum online, the physical location in Milwaukee opened in 2017.

They have amassed thousands of bobbleheads, and as one would expect given the size, there’s quite a bit of diversity in that group. There are bobbleheads for star athletes of all sports and eras, from Babe Ruth to Caitlin Clark. There are classic mascots such as the Phillie Phanatic and University of Georgia’s Hairy Dog. And there are bobbleheads that couldn’t be farther away from sports, such as the founding fathers signing the Declaration of Independence and Pope Leo XIV.

Their Olympic collection is a perfect sample of what the museum has to offer. Seven different winter and six summer sports are featured in their online shop. Speed skater Erin Jackson, featured as one of the two U.S. flag bearers at Friday’s Opening Ceremony after winning Olympic gold in the 500m race in 2022, is one of them. The most represented group is the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team, which famously won gold after a historic upset in the medal round of the Soviet Union, who had won the previous four gold medals. Defenseman Jack O’Callahan, goaltender Jim Craig and head coach Herb Brooks each have their own figure – Craig and Brooks actually have two. There’s even a customizable one (you don’t control the look but can adjust the jersey name and number) wearing the U.S. hockey uniform.

Other current stars such as Jessie Diggins and Elana Meyers Taylor are featured as well. There’s a strong attention to detail on the figures. For example, Diggins’ bobble features a bronze, silver and gold medal, accurately reflecting her medal count entering the Milan Cortina Olympics.

But the museum isn’t just a self-serving collection. Many of the bobbleheads are used to do good. Proceeds from many of the sales go to charities specifically targeted toward the people they’re depicting. For example, donations are made to the Herb Brooks Foundation whenever one of his bobbleheads is sold. Part of the sales of Meyers Taylor souvenirs go to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, a nod to her son, Nico, who was born with Down Syndrome. Several Paralympians are proudly displayed as well.

The museum prides itself on not being static. There are special event bobbleheads released to capitalize on real-world events. There's already a bobblehead depicting Fernando Mendoza’s diving touchdown that helped Indiana University secure the NCAA football national championship less than a month ago. Some are dynamic, such as college mascots with a changeable number at the bottom that fans can update to reflect where their team is in the latest rankings.

There will be countless ways the heroics of the stars of the Milan Cortina Olympics will be remembered. And even something that seems as trivial as a bobblehead can show just how widespread the pride in their performance is.

“We are excited to have these bobbleheads featuring current and former Olympians available for fans as they watch all of the action unfold in Italy,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Sklar said. “The accomplishments of these Olympians serve as an inspiration to so many and we think these bobbleheads are the perfect way for fans to celebrate their favorite Olympians and their historic accomplishments.”