Paris 2024 Olympics: Why Do Olympians Bite Their Medals
From Usain Bolt to Neeraj Chopra, we’ve all seen olympians with a biting medal pose. It has become a tradition for them to do so. But why do olympians bite their medals? Is it just a weird habit or a candid moment showcasing triumph and happiness?
As the Paris 2024 Olympics has just kickstarted, let’s delve into the tradition behind the famous medal-biting pictures while exploring the symbolism, history, and a touch of cheeky superstition. All of these things make this iconic gesture more than just a photo op.
Who Started The Tradition Of Biting The Gold Medal?
Just this past weekend you must have seen silver medalist Lauren Scruggs, the first African American woman biting her gold medal. That’s when photographers click this iconic pose and media portals viral it.
There is no clear indication as to why Olympic athletes are still biting their medals in 2024. They just do it because they’ve seen their role models and other Olympians doing it. Out of respect for the tradition, the other medalists bite their medals too.
You can compare this to other sports events too. For example, many aspiring young footballers copy the goal celebration of Cristiano Ronaldo because they admire and idolize him. This is just the same thing.
There is no hidden meaning behind this and there is no clear indication to who started this trend. Some news outlets claim that the tradition was especially noted during the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, but it is still unclear who specifically started it.
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Why Do Olympians Bite Their Medals?
Why do athletes bite their medals? The answer is a blend of practical and symbolic origins dating back to the 19th century.
Here’s a little bit of history. The Olympics started in 1896. Back in the day, the first place people got silver medals and the runners up for bronze medals. In the next Olympics, athletes were given trophies.
It was not until the Olympics 1904 where medals were made of gold. However, when World War I began, the availability of gold became scarce and the organizers started mixing other alloy metals to it.
Still, the question remains — Why do you think athletes sometimes bite down on their gold medals?. Let’s travel back to the 1800s where there was a gold rush happening in California. The first thing people did back in the day after purchasing gold was to bite it. They used to bite the gold they purchased to check its purity.
The idea behind was that pure gold is a soft, malleable metal. The question they had was, “Does biting gold medals leave a mark?” Yes, if a bite left indentations, the gold metal was considered to be genuine. If it didn’t leave any mark, you would probably lose a tooth and your hard earned money.
However, modern medals that are made in today’s times aren’t made of solid gold. Hence, the bite test is no longer effective.
Culturally, the act of biting a medal has become a symbolic gesture. It sort of represents the authenticity and value of a person’s achievement. When winners and runners bite their medals, it symbolizes the enduring excitement and pride associated with winning an Olympic medal.
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Is The Olympic Gold Medal Real Gold?
No, the Olympics gold medal isn’t real gold. It hasn’t been since the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. This doesn’t mean it’s not worth anything. The International Olympic Committee has put up a rule that gold medals need to be composed of at least 92.5% silver, with a thin layer of gold amounting to roughly six grams. Thus, a touch of gold is present in all the gold medals.
The six grams of gold in it calculates to approximately $768 as of today. Owing to the fluctuation in gold price, they had to cut down the presence of it in medals. And if it had to be made completely in gold, it would cost somewhere around $42,161. This is way out of the budget and that’s one of the primary reasons why they stopped making medals out of pure gold.
Conclusion: The Medal Bite As A Symbol Of Success
The act of Olympians biting their medals at the Paris 2024 is more than a mere tradition. It represents a profound blend of triumph, authenticity, and connection with the historic roots of the Olympic games.
It shows the athletes’ love for their respective sport. And as these athletes rejoice their hard-earned victories, the gold medal bite marks become a testament to their struggles and the enduring spirit of the athletic contest.
