Olympic medals for most athletes, with the possible exception of football players and professional boxers, are the highest recognition of their talent, the crown of their careers, something that most of them strive for their whole lives. Their design and appearance have always been given increased attention, many of them for a long time remained in the memory of not only athletes, but also ordinary fans.
As you know, Olympic medals appeared only with the revival of these sports at the end of the XIX century. In 1894, two years before the Games in Athens, a special decision was made to award the winner and prize-winners, with gold to be in first place, silver in second, and bronze in third.
According to the decision of the same congress, Olympic gold medals, as well as silver ones, were to be made of silver of the 925th test. On top, they, unlike the awards for second place, should have been covered with 6 grams of pure gold. Athletes who took third place should have received a medal of high quality bronze.
The first Olympic medals designed by the Frenchman J. Chaplin, on one side were the image of Zeus with the goddess of victory, Niki, and on the other, the ancient Greek Acropolis with an inscription claiming that its owner was a prize winner of the Olympic Games. A total of forty-three sets of medals were won in Athens-1896; the weight of one medal was only forty-seven grams.
Olympic medals, photos of which are made public about a year before the start of the games, are usually most directly related to the traditions of the country in which these competitions are held. There are no uniform requirements for their appearance; much depends on the designer and organizers. Even their form was not always a circle. For example, in 1900 the awards were made in the form of small rectangles, on the sides of which Nika and the same Acropolis were depicted.
Until 1960, Olympic medals were awarded directly to the hands, but in Rome for the first time they were hung on bronze chains. From that moment, the award ceremony became more solemn and beautiful, and the awards on the chest of athletes began to look more impressive. After 38 years, an additional eyelet appeared in the medals, into which the tape began to go. This tradition continues to this day.
Olympic medals, in addition to awards to the winner and prize-winners, include the famous order of P. de Coubertin. It is considered the highest award of the International Olympic Committee and is awarded to those athletes and functionaries who have made a significant contribution to the development of the Olympic movement. In the sports hierarchy, this award is considered even more prestigious than a gold medal.
Olympic medals are awarded in a festive atmosphere, while the national anthem of the winning country is sure to sound, and its flag is raised. The person who receives this award will forever remain in the annals an outstanding athlete of his generation, a person who has overcome himself.