Why Do Athletes Bite Gold Medals?
If you’ve ever watched the Olympics, you might have noticed a peculiar tradition: athletes biting their gold medals. It’s a classic photo op, but what’s the story behind this unusual practice? Let’s dig into why Olympic champions sink their teeth into their shiny prizes.
A Taste of Tradition
First things first, let’s clear up a common misconception: no, Olympic medals are not made of chocolate. Despite what you might hope, the medals are not edible, but rather a symbol of an athlete’s hard-earned achievement. So why the biting?
The practice dates back to a time when gold was used as currency. In the past, traders and merchants would bite gold coins to verify their authenticity. Gold is a soft metal, and biting it would leave a dent, confirming it was real gold rather than a cheaper metal. This method was a simple way to ensure the value of the currency.
The Medal-Munching Myth
But wait—Olympic medals haven’t been made of pure gold for over a century. Since 1912, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded medals that are mostly silver, with just a thin layer of gold plating. This means that biting a medal today doesn’t test for gold authenticity.
So why do athletes still bite their medals? It’s all about the tradition and the photo opportunity.
The Photographer’s Request
In modern times, the medal-biting tradition has more to do with creating memorable images. Photographers love capturing that iconic moment when a champion takes a big bite out of their medal. David Wallechinsky, president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, notes that this act has become something of an obsession for photographers. “They look at it as an iconic shot,” he explains. It’s a pose that often ends up making headlines and decorating the front pages of newspapers around the world.
A Risky Tradition
Sometimes, though, this tradition can come with risks. For example, at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, German luger David Möhler broke a tooth while biting into his silver medal. “The photographers wanted a picture of me holding the medal just with my teeth,” Möhler said. “Later at dinner, I noticed a bit of one of my teeth was missing.” Fortunately, such incidents are rare and usually result in nothing more than a good story to tell.
Beyond the Olympics
The tradition of biting medals isn’t limited to the Olympic Games. Tennis star Rafael Nadal is known for biting the Coupe des Mousquetaires, the French Open trophy. It’s a ritual he has performed after each of his record 14 victories at Roland Garros. The act serves as both a personal celebration and a moment for photographers to capture his joy.
The Bottom Line
While biting into a gold medal might seem like a quirky habit, it’s steeped in history and tradition. It’s less about testing the medal’s worth and more about creating a memorable moment for the athlete and the media. So next time you see a champion flashing a big grin and taking a bite out of their medal, you’ll know it’s all part of the celebration—and a nod to a tradition that’s more than a century old.
FAQ: Why do Olympic Athletes Bite Gold Medals?
1. Who Started the Tradition of Biting the Gold Medal?
The tradition of biting gold medals is often connected to Canadian boxer George Dixon, who was seen doing it at the 1904 Olympics, and American swimmer Michael Phelps, who popularized it further with photos of him biting his medals at the 2008 Olympics. Dixon helped start the practice, while Phelps’s high profile made it more widely known today.
2. Why Athletes Bite Gold Medals?
Olympic athletes bite their medals mainly for the sake of photographers. It’s a common practice during post-event celebrations to create a memorable and iconic photo. The gesture has become a tradition, often requested by photographers to make the moment more visually striking.
3. Is biting the medal a way to test its authenticity?
No, athletes don’t bite their medals to test their authenticity. This practice dates back to when gold was used in coins, and traders would bite them to check if they were real gold. However, since Olympic medals have not been made of pure gold since 1912, this is not a concern today.
4. What are Olympic medals made of?
Olympic medals are not made of pure gold. Modern gold medals are primarily composed of silver, with a minimum of 92.5% silver. They are coated with a thin layer of gold, about six grams, to give them their distinctive appearance.
5. Who started the tradition of biting medals?
The exact origin of the medal-biting tradition is unclear, but it has become popular over time, largely due to the influence of photographers and media coverage. It’s now a well-recognized pose in sports photography.
6. Have any athletes been injured while biting their medals?
Yes, there have been incidents where athletes have been injured while biting their medals. For example, German luger David Möeller broke a tooth while posing with his silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
7. Do other sports or competitions have similar medal-biting traditions?
Yes, the practice of biting trophies and medals is not limited to the Olympics. For instance, tennis player Rafael Nadal is known for biting the Coupe des Mousquetaires, the trophy awarded at the French Open.
8. What is the purpose of the medal-biting pose in media coverage?
Photographers often request athletes to bite their medals to capture a memorable and marketable image. These photos are frequently used in newspapers, magazines, and online media to highlight the athlete’s victory.
9. Are there any other famous medals or trophy poses in sports?
Yes, besides the Olympic medal bite, there are other famous poses. For example, Rafael Nadal’s biting of the French Open trophy and the celebratory pose athletes make with their championship rings or trophies in various sports.
