WHO would have thought that the glittering Olympic gold medal that athletes dream of actually holds a surprising secret?
According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations, Olympic gold medals are actually composed of at least 92.5% silver and only coated with 6 grams of gold.
This fact shows that the gold medal, which has long been considered a symbol of glory, is not made entirely of pure gold.
As Ari Shapiro put it in an NPR interview, “According to International Olympic Committee regulations, Olympic gold medals must be made of at least 92.5% silver, which is equivalent to 523 grams, and then coated with 6 grams of gold.”
The use of silver is not only about cost or availability, but also related to the softer nature of silver, making it easier to engrave and give intricate details.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 5,084 gold, silver and bronze medals will be hexagonal shaped pieces designed by French jewelry house Chaumet.
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Tony Estanguet, chairman of the local organizing committee, said: “We want to offer all medalists at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games a piece of the Eiffel Tower from 1889.”
This design not only features the precious metal of the medal itself, but also incorporates a symbolic piece of the Eiffel Tower, making each medal more meaningful and connected to the history of Paris.
The medal was designed by Chaumet, a jewelry house that has served French royalty since 1780. It features a hexagonal shape, depicting the contours of the French landmass, but still uses a sparkling circular background.
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The metal pieces used for the medals were taken from a warehouse in Paris, which holds pieces of the Eiffel Tower that were kept during the tower’s maintenance process.
Furthermore, the tradition of designing Olympic medals began with the first Olympic Games in 1896. The medals were designed by French sculptor Jules-Clement Chaplain, featuring the god Zeus holding Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, on the obverse, and the Acropolis on the reverse.
These first medals were struck by the Paris Mint, which was also responsible for striking the medals for the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris.
Until 1912, Olympic gold medals were still made of pure gold, before finally switching to the combination of silver and gold as we know it today.
With its historical elements and design innovations, the Olympic medals are not only a symbol of victory, but also a representation of the evolution of tradition and cultural heritage inherent in each Olympic Games. (Z-1)
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