Have you ever noticed Olympic medallists biting their medals after the victory ceremony? This curious tradition has intrigued many, prompting us to delve into its origins and significance.
The practice’s roots can be traced back to the ancient Olympic Games in Greece. In those days, only one athlete was crowned the ultimate champion. However, when the modern Olympic Games were revived by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894, the 1896 Athens Games introduced silver and bronze medals as awards. Initially, pure gold medals were awarded until the 1912 Stockholm Games, but this practice was discontinued following the outbreak of World War I. Today, gold medals are primarily made of silver plated with gold.
In ancient times, merchants would bite into gold objects to test their purity. This was a common practice because mixing gold with cheaper metals was prevalent. Gold’s malleability meant that genuine gold would leave teeth marks, while chipped or scratched marks indicated forgery.
Although the practice of biting medals has lost its original purpose of verifying purity, it has persisted as a tradition in modern times. Athletes often bite their medals due to ingrained custom or persistent requests from photographers. From a sporting perspective, the act has no real significance. It is simply a gesture that has become synonymous with Olympic victory.
