The Olympic Medals

Posted by Paola
The Olympic medals show a Greek goddess, the Olympic rings, the coliseum of ancient Athens, a Greek vase called Amphora,  a horse drawn, the year, and the number of Olympiad, since 1928.  Each host city is allowed to add special details. The Atlanta Committee for the Olympics selected a picture of athletes  doing the sport the medal is awarded for.

 These are some Olympic rings I saw at the Olympic Museum in Park City, Utah.

There is a total of 1,838 Olympic medals used each year of  Olympic Games. There are 604 gold medals, 604 silver medals, and 630 bronze medals. Some Olympic events don't have third or fourth placers.

In ancient Greece, the winner was rewarded with a crown of olive leaves.  Second and third placers received nothing.

In 1896,  the first placer received a silver medal, not a gold medal.  In 1904, the Olympic Games of St. Louis replaced the silver medal with a gold one. Other people didn't like this. 

Today's Olympic gold medal is actually sterling silver covered in pure gold. The Olympic medals are two inches in diameter.