They will have nothing else in mind in Paris 2024. Winning one of the three medals, if possible gold, although silver or bronze would not be bad either. When they get on the podium, the lucky winners will certainly not ask themselves the question: but why are the charms made of gold, silver or bronze? And why not platinum or another metal just as precious as titanium, chrome, cobalt or nickel?
The answer is both historical and… scientific. At the time of the restoration of the Olympic Games, the nascent International Olympic Committee (IOC) had decided to celebrate only the first two. Exit the third, who left the competition empty-handed. Later, the IOC would retroactively recognize the third-place finishers of 1896 for the official count.
Square medals, gilded silver, laurel branch…
Better still, in 1896, no champion left with a gold medal. The winner was awarded a medal in… silver and the second in bronze or copper. To keep the reference of the ancient games which only rewarded the winner with the famous olive crown, the only reward of the time, the IOC offered in addition to their respective medals an olive branch for the winners of 1896, and a laurel branch for the second.
In Paris 1900, a third medal appeared in certain disciplines only. But the principle remained that of a silver-gilded medal for the winner, silver for the second and bronze or copper for certain third-place finishers. In Paris, the medals were square for the only time in Olympic history.
In Saint-Louis 1904, the representation that we know today was definitively opted for. In Los Angeles 1932, the podium protocol ceremony was invented. And it was not until Rome 1960 that the medal was given around the neck. Previously, it was attached to a ribbon in order to be worn on the torso.
The choice to reward the first two and then the first three is explained by the organization of the competitions of the time. In the British model, the winner, who became the defender, won the right to challenge a challenger, resulting from an elimination phase. This model will be taken up in particular by the America’s Cup, the oldest competition in the world created in 1851.
The advent of the small final
The third will then be rewarded by taking inspiration from the American model. Thus, it was customary to organize a small final between the two defeated in the semi-finals. It is therefore no coincidence that this system was put in place during the first games in the United States in 1904 in Saint-Louis.
While the choice of these metals is obviously explained by their rarity, the visual aspect is also decisive. This is how platinum was quickly excluded from the choices for the three Olympic awards. Indeed, platinum has a white appearance, too close to silver. They could have been confused. For better readability, it is therefore necessary to be able to clearly distinguish the three metals by their colors.
The gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics, here kissed by the Frenchwoman Cléopatre Darleux. Icon Sport
Finally, the choice of copper was quickly ruled out for scientific reasons. Copper is a metal that oxidizes, unlike gold and silver. Over time, the copper medals would have seen their appearance change, first becoming greenish, then brownish before becoming… black. An inevitably less shiny appearance, as a result. In this, the gold-silver-bronze combination is perfect on the visual aspect but also on the rarity of the metals and in their conservation.
The composition of the medals has also evolved over time. If in Saint-Louis 1904 and London 1908, the gold medals were made of solid gold. Everything changed in Stockholm 1912, the gold medal was actually made of 92% silver with an enveloping layer of gold. A choice that is obviously explained by economic considerations.
Purity of at least 92.5%
Since then, the IOC has defined the official rules for the design and production of Olympic medals. Thus, the gold medal must be made of silver with a purity of at least 92.5% and plated with at least 6 g of pure gold. The silver medal is made of silver with a purity of at least 92.5%. Finally, the bronze medal is made of an alloy combining mainly copper and another metal (such as tin or zinc).
The medal sets are still subject to validation by the IOC. “The medals must include the goddess of Victory, the Olympic emblem, the full name of the Games in question, the name of the sport or discipline concerned and the emblem of the OCOG,” says the Olympic Studies Centre, which depends on the IOC.
This was of course the case for the Paris 2024 medals, which will include fragments of the Eiffel Tower, weighing 18 g per medal, from pieces recovered and preserved during the various renovations of the Iron Lady.
Traditionally, the gold medal is always heavier than the others with a weight of more than 500 g. Today, it is estimated that the price of a gold medal is around 340 euros but some, due to their historical value, are obviously priceless.
