Shaquille O'Neal shredded online as he reveals he tossed Olympic gold medal out of car after 1996 win

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Shaquille O’Neal, the legendary basketball player, revealed an astonishing anecdote on 'The Big Podcast with Shaq', recounting how he disposed of his Olympic gold medal shortly after winning it in 1996.

O’Neal, 52, shared his frustration over his limited playing time during the gold medal game at the 1996 Olympics. Despite his contributions throughout the tournament, Coach Lenny Wilkens decided to allocate more minutes to David Robinson, leaving O’Neal sidelined until the final moments of the game.

Shaquille O'Neal admits to discarding Olympic gold medal

“The Olympic games, 96, I played throughout, helped them come back, win games,” O’Neal, 52, said. “And in the gold medal game, (coach) Lenny Wilkens says, "Hey this is probably David Robinson’s last game, so he’s gonna get more minutes.I said 'Cool. ”

O’Neal continued, “But he didn’t play me at all until like the last two minutes. I was so pissed off, after the ceremony, I drove home in my uniform and I threw the goddamn medal out the window on I-75.”

The former Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers player admitted to keeping the uniform. He told Lefkoe that he believes the medal has never found.

“I went like this O’Neal motions as if he is ripping the medal off his neck] and threw it out the window,” he said. "I was so mad," he added. 

In a candid interview with People in 2022, Shaquille O’Neal opened up about his lifelong struggle with anger management, particularly after disappointing basketball performances.

"After a bad game, especially if it was my fault, missed my free throws, I'd go crazy," O'Neal admitted. "I'd tear the house up. I was the Hulk," he said. 

However, as time has passed, O'Neal, also known as DJ Diesel, has undergone significant personal growth. He shared how his perspective has shifted and how he finds joy in spontaneous acts of generosity.

O'Neal revealed his newfound passion for "guerrilla-style" giving, where he surprises strangers with gifts during impromptu shopping trips. Explaining his motivation, he said, "One, it's the right thing to do. It's what I was taught. And two, that could be me. That was my parents and me back in the day — them trying to give me things they couldn't afford. I've got plenty of money now."

O'Neal humorously noted that his ability to connect with gift recipients stems from his own youthful spirit. "Plus," he added with a chuckle, "I know what kids like — because I am a kid."

Shaquille O'Neal trolled online after admitting to tossing Olympic gold medal

Shaquille O'Neal's revelation about tossing his Olympic gold medal has sparked reactions online, with some expressing disbelief and disappointment.

One commenter criticized O'Neal, labeling him as "ungrateful" for his actions. Another expressed shock, stating, "If this story is true he’s more arrogant than I thought. Athletes dream of going to the Olympics, let alone winning a gold medal. He wins a medal and throws it away."

Another user questioned O'Neal's decision, suggesting that he should have declined the medal saying, "He should have just rejected it when it was given to him than getting rid of it and not letting those that needed ot have it" 

The fourth user commented, "I wonder if someone found it and kept it."

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