Trophy facts for kids

This page is about competition awards. For other uses, see Trophy (disambiguation).

Several awards for a Scrabble tournament in Benin

A trophy is a special, decorative item. It helps us remember a great achievement. Trophies show that someone has done something really well. They are often given for sporting events, from kids' games to professional competitions. People also get trophies for achievements in school, arts, business, and community work. Sometimes, instead of a trophy, people get medals or rings.

The word "trophy" comes from the Greek word tropaion. Long ago, this word meant things taken from a battle. These could be weapons, flags, or even parts of enemy ships. These "war trophies" celebrated military wins.

What's in a Name?

The word "trophy" came into English around 1550. It came from the French word trophée, which meant "a prize of war." This word itself came from Latin and Greek words. These words were about "turning" or "changing," like turning the tide of a battle.

In ancient Greece, winners made trophies right on the battlefield. They used captured weapons and flags. These were often hung on a tree or a tall pole. Sometimes, they wrote stories of the battle on them. They even dedicated these trophies to their gods. Destroying a trophy was seen as a very bad thing to do.

The ancient Romans kept their trophies closer to home. They built huge stone monuments in Rome. These included columns and arches decorated with trophies. Many of these stone trophies have been lost over time.

A Look Back at Trophies

In ancient Greece, winners of the Olympic games first received only laurel wreaths. Later, they also got a special jar called an amphora filled with sacred olive oil. In other local games, winners received different prizes. These could be a tripod vase, a bronze shield, or a silver cup.

In ancient Rome, winners usually received money instead of trophies.

Cups became popular trophies in the late 1600s. For example, the Kyp Cup was a small silver cup. It was given to the winner of a horse race in New England around 1699. Cups, especially silver ones, became very common for sports. Winners of horse races, boating, and early car races often received them. Famous cup-shaped trophies today include the Davis Cup, Stanley Cup, and America's Cup.

Today, many trophies are made from plastic or resin. This makes them less expensive and more common.

The oldest sports trophies in the world are the Carlisle Bells. These bells are for horse racing and date back to 1559 and 1599. They have been awarded for over 400 years in Carlisle, United Kingdom. You can see them at the Tullie House museum.

Different Kinds of Trophies

Trophy for the 1934 Melbourne Cup. This trophy is a "loving cup" style, with three handles.

Modern trophies often look like the event they celebrate. For example, a basketball tournament trophy might look like a basketball player. Trophies used to be useful items like cups or bowls. They could also be statues of people or animals. While traditional trophies were made of metal and wood, many are now made with plastic figures and marble bases. This keeps them feeling solid but makes them more affordable.

The Academy Awards Oscar is a trophy shaped like a person. The Hugo Award for science fiction looks like a space ship. The Wimbledon awards are a large cup for men and a silver plate for women. Some car race trophies even show the shape of the race track.

A loving-cup trophy is a common type. It's a cup shape, usually on a stand. It has two or more handles and is often made of silver.

Hunting trophies are items kept from hunted animals. An animal's head mounted on a wall is an example. These can be examples of taxidermy, where the whole animal is stuffed and put on display.

Perpetual trophies are special. The winner holds them until the next event. Then, they must compete again to keep the trophy. In some contests, if you win a certain number of times, you get to keep the trophy forever.

Sports Trophies

Trophies are given for team or individual achievements in sports. Many combat sports, like boxing, use championship belts as trophies. Unlike most trophies, a new belt isn't made for each new champion. The new champion simply takes the belt from the old one.

Football (Soccer) Trophies

Norberto Alonso with the Copa Libertadores Trophy. This trophy is given to the champions of Copa Libertadores.

Copa Libertadores Trophy: This trophy is known as Libertadores or Copa. It's given to the winners of the Copa Libertadores since 1960. It's one of the most important awards in the Western Hemisphere.
The FA Cup: This trophy is for the winners of England's main football knockout tournament. The FA Cup started in 1871, making it the oldest club football tournament. The original trophy was stolen in 1895. The current trophy design, first used in 1911, is actually the fifth version.
The Women's FA Cup: This trophy is for the winners of England's main women's football knockout tournament. It started in 1971.
FIFA World Cup Trophy: This is awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup since 1974. Before that, winners received the Jules Rimet Trophy. Brazil kept the Jules Rimet Trophy forever after winning it three times in 1970. Both are often called the World Cup.
FIFA Women's World Cup Winner's Trophy: This is given to the winners of the FIFA Women's World Cup since 1999. Unlike the men's trophy, a new women's trophy is made for each champion to keep.
Henri Delaunay Trophy: This trophy is for the winners of the UEFA European Championship since 1960. The design was changed in 2008 to make it bigger and heavier.
European Champion Clubs' Cup: Also called the European Cup, this is for the winners of the UEFA Champions League. It's the most important trophy in the Eastern Hemisphere. People sometimes call it "old big ears" because of its shape.
Scottish Cup: This trophy is for the winners of Scotland's main knockout cup tournament. The tournament started in 1873 and still uses the original trophy. This makes it the world's oldest national football trophy.

The European Champion Clubs' Cup held here by Johan Cruyff in 1972. This trophy is awarded to the winners of the UEFA Champions League.

The original Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen in Brazil in 1983 and has never been found. Before the 1966 final, a secret replica was made. This has led to stories about which trophy was actually stolen.

Until 2009, clubs that won the European Champion Clubs' Cup three times in a row, or five times total, could keep the trophy forever. The current trophy has been used since 2005–06.

Four different trophies have been awarded for the FA Cup. The first was stolen and melted down. The third was retired in 1992 because it was too fragile. A new, more durable design was unveiled in 2014.

Australian Rules Football Trophies

AFL Premiership Cup: Awarded to the winner of the AFL Grand Final.
McClelland Trophy: Awarded to the champion of the regular season.

Baseball Trophies

Commissioner's Trophy: Awarded to Major League Baseball's World Series Champion.

Basketball Trophies

Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy: Awarded to the National Basketball Association's champion.
Naismith Trophy: Awarded to the FIBA World Cup champions.

Cricket Trophies

The Ashes urn

Cricket World Cup Trophy: Awarded to the Winners of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
The Ashes urn: This is awarded to the winning team of the cricket series between England and Australia. The urn itself is not a trophy that is given away. It stays in the MCC Cricket Museum. Winners receive a replica of the urn.

Gaelic Football Trophies

Sam Maguire Cup: Awarded to the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

American Football Trophies

College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy: Awarded to the winner of the College Football Playoff.
Heisman Trophy: Awarded to the NCAA's Most Valuable Player in College Football.
Vince Lombardi Trophy: Awarded to the National Football League's Super Bowl champion.

Canadian Football Trophies

Grey Cup: Awarded to the Canadian Football League's champion.
Vanier Cup: Awarded to the U Sports Canadian football champion.

Golf Trophies

Claret Jug: Awarded to the winner of The Open Championship.
Ryder Cup: Awarded to the winner of a competition between Europe and the USA.
Wanamaker Trophy: Awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship.

Esports Trophies

The Summoner's Cup at the 2015 League of Legends World Championship.

Esports competitions often have big and impressive trophies.

Summoner's Cup: Awarded to the winning team of the League of Legends World Championship. It weighs about 32 kilograms!
Aegis of Champions: A large bronze and silver shield awarded to the winners of The International.
Classic Tetris World Championship trophy: A large tetromino made of gold or silver.

Horse Racing Trophies

The Arlington Million Trophy being carried. This trophy is awarded to the winners of the Arlington Million horse race.

Arlington Million Trophy: Awarded to the winner of the Arlington Million.
Kentucky Derby Trophy: Awarded to the winner of the Kentucky Derby.
Triple Crown Trophy: Awarded to the winner of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
Woodlawn Vase: Awarded to the winner of the Preakness Stakes. This is one of the most valuable trophies in sports, worth over $4,000,000 US dollars.

Hurling Trophies

Liam MacCarthy Cup: Awarded to the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Ice Hockey Trophies

The Stanley Cup is a perpetual trophy awarded to the winners of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

Stanley Cup: Awarded to the NHL's playoff champion. It's a very old and famous trophy. It became the main NHL playoff trophy in 1947.

Lacrosse Trophies

Champion's Cup: Awarded to the National Lacrosse League champion.
Mann Cup: An Indoor Lacrosse trophy awarded to the senior men's lacrosse champions of Canada.

Motorsport Trophies

APBA Gold Cup: Awarded to H1 Unlimited’s APBA Gold Cup Champion. It is the oldest trophy in motorsports.
Borg-Warner Trophy: Awarded to the Indianapolis 500 Champion.
Harley J. Earl Trophy: Awarded to the Daytona 500 Champion.

Tennis Trophies

Wimbledon tennis trophies: The men's singles champion receives a cup. The women's singles winner receives the Venus Rosewater Dish.
French Open tennis trophies: The men's singles winner receives the Coupe des Mousquetaires (The Musketeers' Trophy). The women's singles winner receives the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.

Rugby Football Trophies

Rugby League

The Paul Barrière Trophy is awarded to the winners of the Rugby League World Cup.

Challenge Cup: Rugby league's oldest knockout competition.
Paul Barrière Trophy: Awarded to the champions of the Rugby League World Cup.

Rugby Union

Bledisloe Cup: Awarded every year to the winner between New Zealand and Australia.
Calcutta Cup: Awarded every year to the winner between England and Scotland.
Webb Ellis Cup: Awarded to rugby union's World Champion.

Sailing Trophies

America's Cup: Awarded to Yacht Racing Champion.
Jules Verne Trophy: Awarded to the yacht that sails around the world the fastest.

Military Awards

The United States military also gives out special awards called "non-portable decorations." These are like trophies that show a military achievement. They are not worn on a uniform but are meant for display. Examples include awards for athletic excellence or for top service members.

Professional Awards

Several actors and actresses with "Oscar statuette" in hand. This award is given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Many groups give trophies for excellent work in their fields. Here are some examples:

Academy Award: Given by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for great work in the Film Industry.
Tony Award: Given for excellence in live theater in New York City.
Emmy Award: Given for excellence in the Television industry.
Grammy Award: Given for excellence in the Music industry.
Golden Globes: Given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for excellence in film and television.
MTV Video Music Award: Given by MTV to honor the best in music videos.

Hunting Trophies

In hunting, a "trophy" often means an item made from a killed animal. It is kept as a reminder of the hunt. This can include things like an animal's head mounted on a wall.

Environmental Awards

Goldman Environmental Prize: Often called the "Green Nobel Prize" for environmental activism. It honors those who help protect the environment.
Champions of the Earth: Presented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It honors people working for a more sustainable future.