For sports enthusiasts, the image of an Olympian standing on the podium, medal around their neck, is one of the most iconic scenes in sports. Every four years, we witness the culmination of an athlete’s hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, crystallized in that moment of victory. As the national anthem plays, these athletes often engage in a quirky ritual that leaves many spectators curious—biting their medal.
This curious tradition has become a staple of Olympic celebrations, a gesture that seems as integral to the ceremony as the medal itself. But why do athletes bite their medals, and where did this practice originate?
The Origin of Medal Biting
Historically, biting gold was a method used to test the metal’s authenticity. Pure gold is a soft metal, and biting it could leave a mark, indicating that the metal was genuine. However, this practice is now largely obsolete, especially in the context of the Olympics, where the medals are no longer made entirely of gold.
Since 1912, Olympic gold medals have been composed primarily of silver, with just a thin layer of gold. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) mandates that both gold and silver medals must contain at least 92.5% pure silver. The gold medals are then plated with approximately six grams of gold to give them their iconic appearance.
Given that today’s Olympians aren’t concerned with testing the purity of their medals, the question remains—why do they bite them?
The Modern-Day Explanation
In today’s world, the act of biting the medal has become more of a photo opportunity than a test of authenticity. Photographers, in pursuit of that perfect shot, often ask athletes to pose with their medals in their mouths. The resulting image has become symbolic of triumph and celebration, often used to immortalize the moment in media coverage for years to come.
David Wallechinsky, president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, noted that this trend is driven more by photographers than by the athletes themselves. “It’s become an obsession with the photographers,” he said in an interview. “They see it as an iconic shot that can be widely sold and shared. It’s not something most athletes would instinctively do on their own.”
A Tradition Beyond the Olympics
The tradition of biting medals isn’t confined to the Olympic Games. It has found its way into other sports as well. Tennis legend Rafael Nadal is famously known for biting the trophies he wins, particularly the Coupe des Mousquetaires, awarded to the French Open men’s singles champion. Nadal has won the tournament an astonishing 14 times, and his medal-biting photo has become a familiar sight.
However, this practice isn’t without its risks. During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, German luger David Möller experienced an unfortunate mishap when he broke a tooth while biting into his silver medal. “The photographers wanted a picture of me holding the medal just with my teeth,” Möller later explained. “But during dinner, I realized a piece of one of my teeth was missing.”