Medals
The Olympic medals awarded to winners are another symbol associated with the Olympic games. The medals are made of gold-plated silver (commonly described as gold medals), silver, or bronze,
and awarded to the top 3 finishers in a particular event. Each medal
for an Olympiad has a common design, decided upon by the organizers for
the particular games. From 1928 until 2000, the obverse side of the
medals contained an image of Nike,
the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and
a winners crown in her right. This design was created by Giuseppe
Cassioli. For each Olympic games, the reverse side as well as the labels
for each Olympiad changed, reflecting the host of the games.
In 2004, the obverse side of the medals changed to make more explicit reference to the Greek character of the games. In this design, the goddess Nike flies into the Panathenic stadium, reflecting the renewal of the games. Since then the medals don't have a common side as the design for both sides is decided by the host organizers. The design was by Greek jewelry designer Elena Votsi.
In 2004, the obverse side of the medals changed to make more explicit reference to the Greek character of the games. In this design, the goddess Nike flies into the Panathenic stadium, reflecting the renewal of the games. Since then the medals don't have a common side as the design for both sides is decided by the host organizers. The design was by Greek jewelry designer Elena Votsi.
Introduction and early history
The olive wreath was the prize for the winner at the Ancient Olympic Games. It was an olive branch, of the wild-olive tree that grew at Olympia, intertwined to form a circle or a horse-shoe. According to Pausanias it was introduced by Heracles as a prize for the winner of the running race to honour Zeus.
When the modern Olympic Games began in 1896 medals started to be given to successful competitors. However, gold medals were not awarded at the inaugural Olympics in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The winners were instead given a silver medal and an olive branch, while runners-up received a bronze medal and a laurel branch.
The custom of the sequence of gold, silver, and bronze for the first three places dates from the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has retroactively assigned gold, silver and bronze medals to the three best placed athletes in each event of the 1896 and 1900 Games. If there is a tie for any of the top three places all competitors are entitled to receive the appropriate medal according to IOC rules.
Medals are not the only awards given to competitors; every athlete placed eighth and above receives a diploma. Also, at the main host stadium the names of all medal winners are written onto a wall.
When the modern Olympic Games began in 1896 medals started to be given to successful competitors. However, gold medals were not awarded at the inaugural Olympics in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The winners were instead given a silver medal and an olive branch, while runners-up received a bronze medal and a laurel branch.
The custom of the sequence of gold, silver, and bronze for the first three places dates from the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has retroactively assigned gold, silver and bronze medals to the three best placed athletes in each event of the 1896 and 1900 Games. If there is a tie for any of the top three places all competitors are entitled to receive the appropriate medal according to IOC rules.
Medals are not the only awards given to competitors; every athlete placed eighth and above receives a diploma. Also, at the main host stadium the names of all medal winners are written onto a wall.
Production and design
The IOC dictates the physical properties of the medals and has the
final decision about the finished design. Specifications for the medals
are developed along with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) hosting the Games, though the IOC has brought in some set rules:
- Recipients: The top three competitors receive medals
- Shape: Usually circular, featuring an attachment for a chain or ribbon
- Diameter: A minimum of 60 mm
- Thickness: A minimum of 3 mm
- Material:
- First and second place: made of 92.5 % silver (at least 925–1000 grade)
- First place: Gilded with a minimum 6 grams of pure gold
- Event details: The sport for which the medal has been awarded should be written on the medal
The Trionfo
In 1923 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched a competition for sculptors to design the medals for the Summer Olympic Games. Giuseppe Cassioli's Trionfo design was chosen as the winner in 1928. The obverse brought back Nike but this time as the main focus, holding a winner's crown and palm with a depiction of the Colosseum in the background.
In the top right section of the medal a space was left for the name of
the Olympic host and the Games numeral. The reverse features a crowd of
people carrying a triumphant athlete. His winning design was first
presented at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. The competition saw this design used for 40 years until the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich became the first Games with a different design for the reverse side of the medal.
Cassioli's design continued to inspire the obverse of the medal for many more years, though recreated each time, with the Olympic host and numeral updated. The obverse remained true to the Trionfo design until the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, where the IOC allowed an updated version to be created. For the next few events they mandated the use of the Nike motif but allowed other aspects to change. The trend ended in 2004 due to the negative publicity in reaction to the design of medal for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Wojciech Pietranik, the designer of the medal, along with the organisers of the Games were criticised by the Greek press for using the Roman Colosseum rather than the Greek Parthenon. Pietranik's original design had featured the Sydney Opera House on the obverse but the IOC concluded that it should be replaced by the Colosseum and a chariot rider. He made the changes and, despite the criticism, the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games decided to continue with the design as it was, noting that there was insufficient time to complete another version and that it would be too costly. The error had remained for 76 years until a new style depicting the Panathinaiko Stadium was introduced at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This new obverse design would go on to be used at the 2008 and 2012 Games.
Cassioli's design continued to inspire the obverse of the medal for many more years, though recreated each time, with the Olympic host and numeral updated. The obverse remained true to the Trionfo design until the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, where the IOC allowed an updated version to be created. For the next few events they mandated the use of the Nike motif but allowed other aspects to change. The trend ended in 2004 due to the negative publicity in reaction to the design of medal for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Wojciech Pietranik, the designer of the medal, along with the organisers of the Games were criticised by the Greek press for using the Roman Colosseum rather than the Greek Parthenon. Pietranik's original design had featured the Sydney Opera House on the obverse but the IOC concluded that it should be replaced by the Colosseum and a chariot rider. He made the changes and, despite the criticism, the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games decided to continue with the design as it was, noting that there was insufficient time to complete another version and that it would be too costly. The error had remained for 76 years until a new style depicting the Panathinaiko Stadium was introduced at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This new obverse design would go on to be used at the 2008 and 2012 Games.
Custom reverse design
The German Olympic Committee, Nationales Olympisches Komitee für Deutschland, were the first Summer Games organisers to elect to change the reverse of the medal. The 1972 design was created by Gerhard Marcks, an artist from the Bauhaus, and features mythological twins Castor and Pollux.
Since then the Organising Committee of the host city has been given the
freedom of the design of the reverse, with the IOC giving final
approval.
Comparison between Summer and Winter medals
The IOC has the final decision on the specifications of each design for all Olympic medals, including the Summer Games, Winter Games, and Paralympic Games.
There has been a greater variety of design for the Winter Games; unlike
with the Summer Games, the IOC never mandated one particular design.
The medal at the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France did not even feature the Olympic rings.
Nike was featured on the medals of the 1932 and 1936 Games but has only
appeared on one medal design since then. One regular motif is the use
of the snowflake, while laurel leaves and crowns appear on several
designs. The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius features on four Winter Games medals but does not appear on any Summer Games medal.
For three events in a row, hosts of the Winter Games included different materials in the medals: glass (1992), sparagmite (1994), and lacquer (1998). It was not until the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China that a Summer Olympic host chose to use something different, in this case jade. While every Summer Olympic medal except for the 1900 Games has been circular, the shapes of the Winter Games have been considerably more varied. The Winter Games medals are also generally larger, thicker, and heavier than those for the Summer Games.
For three events in a row, hosts of the Winter Games included different materials in the medals: glass (1992), sparagmite (1994), and lacquer (1998). It was not until the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China that a Summer Olympic host chose to use something different, in this case jade. While every Summer Olympic medal except for the 1900 Games has been circular, the shapes of the Winter Games have been considerably more varied. The Winter Games medals are also generally larger, thicker, and heavier than those for the Summer Games.
The medal designs
Click here to open the gallery of the medal designs.
Summer Olympic medals
Games | Host | Details | Designer(s) | Mint | Diameter (mm) |
Thickness (mm) |
Weight (g) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1896 | Athens, Greece | Obverse: Zeus holding Nike Reverse: The Acropolis |
Chaplain, Jules-ClémentJules-Clément Chaplain | Paris Mint | 48 | 3.8 | 047 |
1900 | Paris, France | Obverse: Winged goddess holding laurel branches; Paris in the background Reverse: A victorious athlete holding a laurel branch; the Acropolis in the background Note: The only Olympic medal that is not circular |
Vernon, FrédériqueFrédérique Vernon | Paris Mint | 59 x 41 | 3.2 | 053 |
1904 | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | Obverse: Nike holding a laurel crown and a palm leaf Reverse: An athlete holding a laurel crown; Greek temple in the background |
Dieges & Clust | Dieges & Clust | 37.8 | 3.5 | 021 |
1908 | London, England | Obverse: An athlete receiving a laurel crown from two female figures Reverse: Saint George atop a horse Edge: "Vaughton", event name and winner |
Mackennal, BertramBertram Mackennal | Vaughton & Sons | 33 | 4.4 | 021 |
1912 | Stockholm, Sweden | Obverse: An athlete receiving a laurel crown from two female figures Reverse: A herald opening the Games with a statue of Pehr Henrik Ling behind him |
Mackennal, BertramBertram Mackennal (obverse) Erik Lindberg (reverse) |
C.C. Sporrong & Co | 33.4 | 1.5 | 024 |
1920 | Antwerp, Belgium | Obverse: An athlete holding a laurel crown and a palm leaf Reverse: Statue of Silvius Brabo Edge: Name, event, team, "Antwerp", and the date |
Dupon, JosuéJosué Dupon | Coosmans | 59 | 4.4 | 079 |
1924 | Paris, France | Obverse: An athlete helping another to stand Reverse: A harp and various items of sports equipment |
Rivaud, AndréAndré Rivaud | Paris Mint | 55 | 4.8 | 079 |
1928 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Design: Trionfo Note: This obverse design, sometimes recreated, remains until 2004, the reverse design remained until 1972 |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | Dutch State Mint | 55 | 3 | 066 |
1932 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Design: Trionfo | Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | Whitehead & Hoag | 55.3 | 5.7 | 096 |
1936 | Berlin, Germany | Design: Trionfo "B.H MAYER PFORZHEIM 990" |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | B.H. Mayer | 55 | 5 | 071 |
1948 | London, England | Design: Trionfo | Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | John Pinches | 51.4 | 5.1 | 060 |
1952 | Helsinki, Finland | Design: Trionfo Edge: 916 M / Y6 (Factory Stamp) |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | Kultakeskus Oy | 51 | 4.8 | 046.5 |
1956 | Melbourne, Australia | Design: Trionfo | Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | K.G. Luke | 51 | 4.8 | 068 |
1960 | Rome, Italy | Design: Trionfo Surround: A bronze laurel wreath and laurel leaf chain |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | Artistice Fiorentini | 68 | 6.5 | 211 |
1964 | Tokyo, Japan | Design: Trionfo | Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli and Koshiba, ToshikakaToshikaka Koshiba | Japan Mint | 60 | 7.5 | 062 |
1968 | Mexico City, Mexico | Design: Trionfo | Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | 60 | 6 | 130 | |
1972 | Munich, Germany | Obverse: Trionfo Reverse: Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus and Leda Edge: Winner's name and sport |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli (obverse) Marcks, GerhardGerhard Marcks (reverse) |
Bavarian Mint | 66 | 6.5 | 102 |
1976 | Montreal, Canada | Obverse: Trionfo Reverse: A stylised laurel crown and the Montreal Games logo Edge: Name of the sport |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli (obverse) | Royal Canadian Mint | 60 | 5.8 | 154 |
1980 | Moscow, Russia | Obverse: Trionfo Reverse: A stylised Olympic flame and the Moscow Games logo |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli (obverse) Postol, IlyaIlya Postol (reverse) |
Moscow Mint | 60 | 6.8 | 125 |
1984 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Obverse: Trionfo Reverse:An Olympic champion held aloft by a crowd Note: The reverse returns to the Cassioli design |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli | Jostens, Inc | 60 | 7.9 | 141 |
1988 | Seoul, South Korea | Obverse: Trionfo Reverse: An outline of a dove carrying a laurel branch and the Seoul Olympic logo |
Cassioli, GiuseppeGiuseppe Cassioli (obverse) | Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation | 60 | 7 | 152 |
1992 | Barcelona, Spain | Obverse: Updated interpretation of Trionfo Reverse: Barcelona Games logo |
Corbero, XavierXavier Corbero | Royal Mint of Spain | 70 | 9.8 | 231 |
1996 | Atlanta, U.S. | Obverse: Updated interpretation of Trionfo Reverse: A stylised olive branch, the Atlanta Games logo, and "Centennial Olympic Games" Edge: "Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games" |
Malcolm Grear Designers | Reed & Barton | 70 | 5 | 181 |
2000 | Sydney, Australia | Obverse: Updated interpretation of Trionfo Reverse: The Sydney Opera House, Olympic Flame, and Olympic rings Edge: Event name |
Pietranik, WojciechWojciech Pietranik | Royal Australian Mint | 68 | 5 | 180 |
2004 | Athens, Greece | Obverse: Nike with Panathinaiko Stadium in the background Reverse: The Olympic Flame, the opening lines of Pindar's Eighth Olympic Ode, and the Athens Games logo |
Votsi, ElenaElena Votsi | 60 | 5 | 135 | |
2008 | Beijing, China | Obverse: Nike with Panathinaiko Stadium in the background Reverse: a jade ring with the Beijing Games logo in the centre and the event details on the outer edge |
Yong, XiaoXiao Yong[15] | China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation | 70 | 6 | 200 |
2012 | London, Great Britain | Obverse: Nike with Panathinaiko Stadium in the background Reverse: The River Thames and the London Games logo with angled lines in the background |
Watkins, DavidDavid Watkins | Royal Mint | 85 | 7 | 375–400 |
Winter Olympic medals
Games | Host | Details | Designer(s) | Mint[7] | Diameter (mm) |
Thickness (mm) |
Weight (g) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1924 | Chamonix, France | Obverse: A skier holding skates and skis and the designer's name Reverse: Written information about the Games Note: Bernard is the only person to have their name featured on an Olympic medal |
Bernard, RaoulRaoul Bernard | Paris Mint | 055 | 04 | 075 |
1928 | St. Moritz, Switzerland | Obverse: A skater surrounded by snowflakes Reverse: Olive branches and host details |
Hunerwadel, ArnoldArnold Hunerwadel | Huguenin Frères | 050.4 | 03 | 051 |
1932 | Lake Placid, U.S. | Obverse: Nike with the Adirondack Mountains in the background Reverse: Laurel leaves and written host details Shape: Circular but not with a straight edge |
Robbins Company | 055 | 03 | 051 | |
1936 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany | Obverse: Nike atop a horse-drawn chariot traversing an arch over winter sporting equipment Reverse: Large Olympic rings |
Klein, RichardRichard Klein | Deschler & Sohn | 100 | 04 | 324 |
1948 | St. Moritz, Switzerland | Obverse: The Olympic torch with snowflakes in the background and the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius Reverse: A snowflake and written host details |
Droz, Paul AndrePaul Andre Droz | Huguenin Frères | 060.2 | 03.8 | 103 |
1952 | Oslo, Norway | Obverse: The Olympic torch and the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius Reverse: A pictogram of Oslo City Hall with three snowflakes and written host details |
Falireus, VasosVasos Falireus and Yvan, KnutKnut Yvan | Th. Marthinsen | 070 | 03 | 137.5 |
1956 | Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy | Obverse: An "ideal woman" and written host details Reverse: A large snowflake with Pomagagnon in the background, the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius, and further host details |
Affer, CostanttinoCostanttino Affer | Lorioli Bros. | 060.2 | 03 | 120.5 |
1960 | Squaw Valley, U.S. | Obverse: The head of a male and female with host details written around them Reverse: Large Olympic rings, the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius, and the name of the sport |
Jones, HerffHerff Jones | Herff Jones Company | 055.3 | 04.3 | 095 |
1964 | Innsbruck, Austria | Obverse: Torlauf Mountains, "Innsbruck 1964", and "Torlauf" Reverse: The Olympic rings above the emblem of Innsbruck with host details around them |
Coufal, MarthaMartha Coufal (obverse) Zegler, ArthurArthur Zegler (reverse) |
Austrian Mint | 072 | 04 | 110 |
1968 | Grenoble, France | Obverse: Three snowflakes and the red rose emblem of Grenoble surrounded by host details Reverse: A stylised image of each sport |
Excoffon, RogerRoger Excoffon | Paris Mint | 061 | 03.3 | 124 |
1972 | Sapporo, Japan | Obverse: Pictogram of lines in the snow Reverse: A snowflake, the sun, and the Olympic rings Shape: Square with rounded, wavy lines |
Kazumi, YagiYagi Kazumi (obverse) Tanaka, IkkoIkko Tanaka (reverse) |
Mint Bureau of the Finance Ministry | 057.3 x 61.3 | 05 | 130 |
1976 | Innsbruck, Austria | Obverse: The Olympic rings above the emblem of Innsbruck with host details around them Reverse: The Alps, Bergisel, and the Olympic flame |
Coufal, MarthaMartha Coufal (obverse) Zegler, ArthurArthur Zegler (reverse) |
Austrian Mint | 070 | 05.4 | 164 |
1980 | Lake Placid, U.S. | Obverse: The Olympic torch held in front of the Adirondack Mountains Reverse: A pine cone sprig and the Lake Placid logo |
Tiffany & Co. | Medallic Art Company | 081 | 06.1 | 205 |
1984 | Sarajevo, Yugoslavia | Obverse: Event logo with host details surrounding it Reverse: An athletes head wearing a laurel crown Shape: Circular but set in a large rounded rectangular shape |
Mitric, NebojsaNebojsa Mitric | Zlatara Majdanpek and Zavod za izradu novcanica | 71.1 x 65.1 | 03.1 | 164 |
1988 | Calgary, Canada | Obverse: Event logo with host details surrounding it Reverse: Two people, one wearing a headdress made up of winter sports equipment |
Peter, FridrichFridrich Peter | Jostens | 069 | 05 | 193 |
1992 | Albertville, France | Obverse: Glass set into the metal, showing the Olympic rings in front of mountains Reverse: Rear side of glass section |
Lalique, RenéRené Lalique | René Lalique | 092 | 09.1 | 169 |
1994 | Lillehammer, Norway | Sparagmite partially covered in gold, one side showing the Olympic rings and host details, the other a ski-jumper and the Games emblem | Hanevold, IngjerdIngjerd Hanevold | Th. Marthinsen | 080 | 08.5 | 131 |
1998 | Nagano, Japan | Obverse: Partly lacquered, shows the Games emblem Reverse: Mainly lacquer, containing the Games emblem over the Shinshu mountains |
Ito, TakeshiTakeshi Ito | Kiso Kurashi Craft Center | 080 | 08 | 261 |
2002 | Salt Lake City, U.S. | Obverse: An athlete carrying the Olympic torch steps out of flames Reverse: Nike holding a victory leaf surrounded by event details Shape: Irregular circle, like the rocks in Utah's rivers |
Given, ScottScott Given, Axiom Design | O.C. Tanner | 085 | 10 | 567 |
2006 | Turin, Italy | Obverse: Graphic elements of the Games Reverse: Pictogram of the specific event Shape: Circular with a hole representing a piazza |
Quatrini, DarioDario Quatrini | Ottaviani | 107 | 10 | 469 |
2010 | Vancouver, Canada | Obverse: An individually cropped section of a large artwork, making each medal unique Reverse: Emblem of the Games and event details Shape: Circular but with undulations stopping it from being flat |
Hunt, CorrineCorrine Hunt and Arbel, OmerOmer Arbel | Royal Canadian Mint | 100 | 06 | 500–576 |
Presenting a medal
The presentation of the medals and awards changed significantly until the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
brought in what has now become standard. Before then all the medals
were awarded at the closing ceremony, with the athletes wearing evening dress
for the first few Games. For the first time at the 1932 Games the
competitors received their medals immediately after each event atop a podium.
The 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy were the first in which the medals were placed around the neck of the athletes. The medals hung from a chain of laurel leaves, while they are now hung from a coloured ribbon. When Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics the competitors on the podium also received a olive wreath crown.
The 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy were the first in which the medals were placed around the neck of the athletes. The medals hung from a chain of laurel leaves, while they are now hung from a coloured ribbon. When Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics the competitors on the podium also received a olive wreath crown.
Below is how the medals being presented: