Are Olympic Gold Medals Made of Real Gold?

Imagine the excitement an Olympic athlete feels when they are standing on the podium with a gold medal around their neck! It’s an honor to win, and they get to take home this unique prize. As you watched the awards ceremony, you might be wondering whether the medals are made of real gold? In this article, we are exploring the composition of Olympic medals – gold, silver, and bronze.

Olympic Gold Medals: Are They Solid Gold?

It might be disappointing to hear, but Olympic gold medals aren’t actually solid gold. The actual composition of these medals includes some gold which is also mixed with other metals. In fact, they primarily contain silver with a gold plating finish.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) requires that gold medals must contain at least 6 grams of pure gold in the plating. So, most gold medals contain 92.5% silver as the base metal. Other metals might include copper or other alloys that enhance both the appearance and durability.

Composition of Silver and Bronze Metals

Since the gold metals aren’t solid gold, it’s no surprise that other elements are also used in silver and bronze medals. Similar to the base of gold medals, silver medals are usually composed of at least 92.5% pure silver. The remaining percentage often includes other alloys to improve durability.

Bronze medals, on the other hand, typically contain a large amount of copper as the base of the medal. Other common compounds include zinc and tin for durability.

Other IOC Requirements for Medal Design

The IOC has several other requirements to ensure the quality and appearance of the medals. For example, each medal must be at least 3mm thick and 60mm in diameter. The design must include Nike (the Greek goddess of victory) on one side, as well as the official name of the games. Then, the host city can choose the design for the other side.

Beyond the Medal: The Significance of Winning

When an athlete receives the medal, the value of the medal isn’t the most important detail. Instead, the recognition of being the top athlete in the world is the real honor. The medal is the representation of this incredible achievement – something the athlete has been training towards for most of their life.

Not many people receive Olympic medals. Since they are rare and highly sought after, the medal ceremony is a great way to embody the spirit of the Olympics and celebrate the accomplishments of the athletes.

–Written by Becki Andrus