The Olympic gold medal won by Steve Christoff, a member of the United States 'Miracle on Ice' team at Lake Placid, has sold for a record $319,800 in an online auction ©Goldin Auctions

An Olympic gold medal won by Steve Christoff, a member of the United States ice hockey team that stunned the Soviet Union at Lake Placid 1980, a victory dubbed the 'Miracle on Ice', has sold for $319,800 (£245,900/€295,000) in an online auction.

The final bid on Goldin Auctions meant it raised more than the two other medals from the Miracle on Ice team sold so far. 

In 2010, Mark Wells’ medal sold through Heritage Auctions for $310,700 (£238,150/€280,400) and four years later the company sold Mark Pavelich's for $262,900 (£200,500/€237,200). 

Christoff's gold medal has gone up for auction before, but in 2017 it failed to reach the reserve price of $250,000 (£192,000/€225,000).

Christoff's jersey from the US match against Finland at Lake Placid 1980 - the game which confirmed the team as Olympic gold medallists and in which he scored a goal and an assist in the 4-2 victory - was also sold.

That raised $116,850 (£89,875/€107,500), significantly less than the $325,000 (£250,000/€300,00) it had sold for last time it had been auctioned. 

The jersey worn by Steve Christoff in the United States' 4-2 victory over Finland at Lake Placid 1980, which clinched the Olympic gold medal, was also sold in the online auction ©Goldin Auctions
The jersey worn by Steve Christoff in the United States' 4-2 victory over Finland at Lake Placid 1980, which clinched the Olympic gold medal, was also sold in the online auction ©Goldin Auctions

The win against Finland came two days after the US, whose team was made up largely of college players, had defeated the Soviets, whose squad consisted primarily of players who were professional in everything but name and who were the four-times defending Olympic champions, 4-3.

The victory has entered US sports legend and Disney made a film in 2004 called Miracle, in which Christoff was played by Scott Johnson.   

The sale of the items was timed to coincide with 40th anniversary celebrations of the famous victory over Soviets on February 22. 

The team took part part in a full weekend of private celebrations and public appearances, including controversially joining President Donald Trump on stage at his Las Vegas rally.

The amount paid for Steve Christoff's Olympic gold medal from Lake Placid is more than for two other 'Miracle on Ice' gold medals previously auctioned ©Goldin Auctions
The amount paid for Steve Christoff's Olympic gold medal from Lake Placid is more than for two other 'Miracle on Ice' gold medals previously auctioned ©Goldin Auctions

When they returned home after defeating Finland for the gold medal in 1980, just two days after toppling the Soviets, the players met President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

The actual medal was minted by Tiffany & Co., reading "XIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES" on one side and "LAKE PLACID 1980 ICE HOCKEY STEVE CHRISTOFF" on the other.

Christoff, though, will not benefit financially from either sale as he no longer owned the medal or jersey. 

After Lake Placid 1980, Christoff joined the National Hockey League's Minnesota North Stars.  

But he retired in 1984 and later became an airline pilot.