The Evolution of Olympic Medals: From Ancient Crowns to Modern Icons

The scene has been reproduced before each edition of the Olympic Games since 1928: the flame of the Paris 2024 Games is lit on Tuesday April 16 in Greece, in Olympia, site of the ancient Games, on the eve of the date marking the hundred days before the ceremony. ‘opening.

After a trip by boat to Marseille, it will be transported by torchbearers across the country to the capital, where athletes will compete to receive medals, a not-so-old tradition.

► Ancient athletes crowned

The Games organized every four years in Olympia during Antiquity were part of the so-called “Panhellenic” Games, bringing together the cities of the Hellenic world, Greece and the colonies. They coexisted with the Games of Delphi (Pythian Games), the Games of the Isthmus of Corinth (Isthmian Games) and the Games of Nemea (Nemean Games).

At the time, only the winners of the events were distinguished. They received a crown of foliage, different depending on the Games: wild olive tree in Olympia, laurel in Delphi, pine in Corinth and celery in Nemea.

In addition to his crown, the victorious athlete was awarded a red woolen ribbon, the taenia, and often a palm branch.

► Silver medals in 1896

The modern Games are directly inspired by the ancient Games, organized until the 4th century AD. The winners of the events of the first edition of the Olympic Games, organized from April 6 to 15, 1896 in Athens at the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin, also received an olive wreath.

But the promoters of these new Games also wanted to innovate. The winners were also rewarded with a silver medal, made by the Monnaie de Paris. In homage to ancient tradition, Zeus and Nike, the goddess of Victory, appeared on one of the sides, the obverse.

The American James B. Connolly, first in the triple jump in athletics, was the first modern Olympic champion to medal in this way. The second was rewarded with a bronze medal and a laurel branch.

► Gold, silver and bronze in 1904

We had to wait until 1904 and the Olympic Games in Saint-Louis (United States) to see the practice still in progress today established: a gold medal for the first, silver for the second and bronze for the third. These awards will be awarded retrospectively to the first three in the events of the 1896 and 1900 Games.

Each medal is initially attached to a colored ribbon with a pin so that it can be worn on the chest. Since 1960, it has been hung around the neck. The podium ceremony has existed since 1932.

► A framed aesthetic

Gold medals are actually made of silver, with a layer of gold, while bronze medals are mainly made of copper. Their design must take into account certain visual elements defined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Games Organizing Committee (Cojo), with final approval from the IOC.

“The medals must include the Goddess of Victory, the Olympic emblem, the full name of the Games in question, the name of the sport or discipline concerned as well as the emblem of the Cojo”specifies the Olympic Studies Center, which depends on the IOC.

But the organizers can add their own touch. The Paris Games medals incorporate fragments of the Eiffel Tower.

The Goddess Nike, the Acropolis of Athens… and the Eiffel Tower.

Gold, silver or bronze, the Olympic medals of the Games #Paris2024 will have a little bit of France in them. pic.twitter.com/nXWKoBynkY

— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) February 8, 2024

The 18 grams of metal from the tower, set on each medal, were in fact extracted from pieces coming from the renovations of the monument and kept in hangars in the Paris suburbs.

2024-04-16 04:49:46
#Olympic #medals #replace #olive #wreaths