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The Olympics have a lengthy history, dating back to 776 B.C. in ancient Greece.1 While steeped in tradition, recent years have seen several improvements to the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games now include some of the greatest athletes from most nations, all competing to win a gold medal. But what is the history behind the Olympic gold medal? Has it been a part of the games since 776 B.C?
The First Olympic Gold Medal
While the first Olympic games were held in 776 B.C., the first gold Olympic medal was awarded during the 1904 Olympic games, held in St. Louis, Missouri.2 What is the reasoning behind the 2,680-year gap between the foundation of the games and the commencement of the gold medal ceremony? Gold was considered too expensive a prize for the athletes, thus winning Olympians received a silver medal, while second place was given a bronze medal.
How Have Olympic Gold Medals Changed Over the Years?
From the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis to the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, gold medals varied in design, with unique engravings, oftentimes relating to the location of the games. These medals additionally had some of their design dedicated to Ancient Greece, commemorating the Olympic Games’ history.3
In 1928, Italian designer Giuseppe Cassioli designed a gold medal that would stay unchanged, save for the engraved writing of the location of the games, until the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. In 2004 many Greeks were keen on redesigning the 1928 design, as Cassioli had paid homage to Roman imagery, omitting Grek history. The Greeks wanted to reconnect the medal with Greek imagery and changed the design of the medal for the first time in 76 years. Since the 2004 Olympic Games, host nations have personalized their gold medals to display symbolic imagery from their history.3
Looking Ahead to the Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed to July 23, 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The medals are surprisingly plain, with a wreath above a ‘Tokyo 2020’ inscription, above the famous Olympic symbol of five rings. A notable change has occurred with this newest design, as Japan utilized recycled metals collected from small electronic devices and cell phones. The “Tokyo Medal Project” allowed for the Japanese public to contribute to the creation of these medals, asking Japan’s citizens to donate their unused devices to create an environmentally friendly medal. Although we’ve had to wait a year since the expected commencement of the games, we can’t wait to see the Olympians and medals in action.
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Sources:
1The First Modern Olympic Games
2 The First Olympic Gold Medal
3 The History of Olympic Gold Medals
