OLYMPIC UTAH

Utah couple celebrates Olympic pin trading 20 years after Salt Lake Games

Feb 15, 2022, 11:56 AM | Updated: Jan 16, 2023, 4:45 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — In 1998, Mike and Paula Bennett owned a soccer store in the old Cottonwood Mall. They were on the bottom floor and bought some Olympic pins to sell for the upcoming games that were four years out. Sales for the pins plummeted when an official pin store opened on the main level. So, Mike Bennett took the 100-or-so pins, including original green Jell-O pins, and put them under the front counter and forgot about them.

Fast forward four years. The Olympics are now in full swing in Salt Lake City when Bennett sees a story run on a local station about people trading pins. He quickly remembers those pins under the counter. He got them out, dusted them off and went downtown with them. And, that’s where the fun really started for Bennett, who now has a collection of 3,500 official pins from the 2002 Winter Games.

Paula and Mike Bennett. (KSL TV)

“He couldn’t speak English,” Bennett tells the story of his first trade. “He put three down, pointed to that one and I nodded.”

That transaction lit a fire Bennett didn’t know existed in him. He told his wife, Paula, she should come with him and check out all of the pins.

“I hadn’t really heard of pin trading,” Paula Bennett said. “When I saw the green Jell-O pins I said to Mike, ‘What does the have to do with the Olympics?’”

One of the Bennetts’ green Jell-O pins is seen in a display case. (KSL TV)

She quickly learned there was a whole world of pins and traders playing an unofficial Olympic sport that was fun and exciting.

“Once you realize every pin has a story and was made for a reason,” that’s when you start to understand the game. One the Bennetts have been playing for 20 years. And the more time goes by, the more they love their collection. The feelings of nostalgia and having the chance to share the collection with others is one of the most rewarding parts of collecting the pins in what, they say, was the best Olympic Games ever.

“It was incredible,” Mike Bennett said. “And that’s why it’s known as probably one of the most successful games ever.”

The pin collection has everything from green Jell-O and fry sauce to fancy gold and diamond-encrusted pins created by OC Tanner, the same company that created the official medals won by athletes.

The Bennetts will tell you the patriotic pins and the official pins that represent the games are their favorites. If you remember, Salt Lake’s Games came just months after 9/11. Of course, pins were created to commemorate that too. Mike Bennett gets emotional as he points out the pin with firefighters raising the flag in New York and another pin representing the tattered American Flag as it was carried into Rice-Eccles Stadium by athletes during the opening ceremony.

The Bennetts now hold an open house for friends and family to look at the collection during Olympic Games. It’s something that started in 2020 and enjoyed again last week.

Paula Bennett never would have dreamed they would be pin collectors, but she loves the collection now for many reasons.

The Bennetts now hold an open house for friends and family to look at the collection during Olympic Games. (KSL TV)

“Our theme was ‘Light the Fire From Within,’ and I feel that passion, and the fire within, I think the pins really were that for me, and for us with this collection,” she said.

The Bennetts say they likely won’t start another pin collection, but don’t rule out expanding this one.

KSL 5 TV Live

Olympic Utah

Photo: The Hoth...

Lindsay Aerts

Salt Lake City prepares for Olympics Future Host Commission visit

As part of the final steps for Utah to secure the bid to host the 2034 games, a key group of Olympic officials will visit Salt Lake City next month.

17 days ago

A biathlete practicing for the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center....

Alex Cabrero

Soldier Hollow hosts BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon

Biathletes across the globe are in Utah and are getting ready to compete in a world-class biathlon competition this weekend. 

22 days ago

A general view of downtown Salt Lake City at night during the Salt Lake Winter Olympics on February...

Alex Cabrero

21,000 hotel rooms committed for potential 2034 Olympics in SLC

There is something about staying in a hotel with a brand you've stayed at before.

2 months ago

Salt Lake City with the Olympic rings on the mountain...

Karah Brackin

Millions requested to attract MLB, NHL and Olympics to Utah

The Utah Sports Commission has requested $4 million from the state to attract and host national and international sporting events.

2 months ago

A climber works out in a gym....

Alex Cabrero

U.S. national climbers talk Olympic competition

U.S. national team climbers are ready for the Summer Paris Games.

2 months ago

FILE - The Utah Capitol is shown on March 3, 2023. Utah lawmakers have just five days left to pass ...

Lindsay Aerts

Salt Lake City and SL County mayors warn of fallout from 2 controversial bills

A bill to overhaul Diversity Equity and Inclusion offices is moving quickly through the legislature, along with a bill that assigns rules for transgender bathroom access.

2 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Utah couple celebrates Olympic pin trading 20 years after Salt Lake Games