Paris 2024: Lesser-Known Facts About Olympic Medals - Tradition, History And Other Details

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Olympic torch is set to be passed, with Paris taking centre stage for the 2024 Summer Games. From July 26 to August 11, the City of Lights will come alive with the world's finest athletes competing for glory.

The Olympic Games are a global spectacle that celebrates athletic excellence. The image of a triumphant athlete biting their gold medal is an iconic moment, but there's more to these coveted prizes than what just meets the eye.

In myKhel's latest series of articles in the build-up to the Paris 2024, here ere are some of the surprising stories behind these symbols of sporting glory, as we look into seven unknown facts about the prestigious Olympic medals.

1. Not Quite Solid Gold: A Modern Twist on Tradition

While shimmering gold is synonymous with Olympic victory, the reality is a bit more modest. Since 1912, Olympic gold medals haven't actually been made entirely of gold.
Modern regulations require them to be at least 92.5% silver, with a minimum of 6 grams of gold plating.

This ensures durability and keeps costs manageable, allowing more athletes to be recognized for their achievements.

2. A Motto for Winter, Not Summer

The Olympic motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (Faster, Higher, Stronger), embodies the spirit of pushing athletic limits.
Interestingly, this motto only appears on medals from the Winter Games, not the Summer Games. This quirk of tradition adds a unique touch to the Winter Olympics.

3. From Olive Wreaths to Gold, Silver, and Bronze

The evolution of Olympic victory rewards reveals a fascinating shift. In 1896, at the first modern Olympics, champions were crowned with an olive wreath, a symbol going back to ancient Greece.

It wasn't until the 1904 Summer Games that the now-familiar gold, silver, and bronze medal system came into play, solidifying its place in Olympic history.

4. Heavier Medals for Colder Games

While both Summer and Winter Olympic medals represent pinnacle achievements, there's a subtle difference in their physical characteristics.
Winter Games medals tend to be larger, thicker, and heavier than their Summer counterparts.

This might be due to a combination of factors, such as design preferences and the need to accommodate a larger engraving area for the various winter sports.

5. Biting the Medal: A Photogenic Pose, Not a Purity Test

The sight of athletes biting their medals is a common trope in Olympic photography. However, this is not a test of the medal's authenticity, as many might believe.
The practice is a photographer's request, inspired by the historical custom of biting gold coins to verify their purity. In reality, modern Olympic medals don't require such tests.

6. When Art Met Athletics: The Olympic Art Competitions

The Olympics aren't just about physical prowess. From 1912 to 1948, art competitions were part of the Olympic Games. Athletes of a different kind competed for medals in categories like architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture.

These competitions showcased the intersection of art and sport, offering a fascinating glimpse into the creative spirit that can be inspired by athletic pursuits.

7. Michael Phelps: The King of Olympic Gold

When it comes to Olympic medals, some athletes stand out for their sheer dominance. Michael Phelps reigns supreme with a record-breaking 18 Olympic gold medals.

On the women's side, Larisa Latynina, a former Soviet gymnast, holds the record with a staggering nine gold medals. These champions exemplify the pinnacle of dedication and talent required to achieve Olympic glory.