The tradition of athletes biting their Olympic medals is less about testing the gold and more about creating a memorable photo op.
The Olympics, the world’s largest sporting event held every four years, sees thousands of athletes competing for the coveted gold medals.
Have you ever wondered why gold medalists often bite their medals? Iconic Olympians like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt have been spotted with their teeth marks on their gold awards.
Historically, traders bit gold coins to verify their authenticity, as gold is a soft metal that leaves teeth marks. However, Olympic medals haven’t been made of pure gold since 1912, so athletes aren’t checking for purity.
So why the biting? It’s all about the photographers. According to the International Olympic Committee, the tradition is driven by photographers who believe that an athlete biting their medal creates a compelling image for newspapers.
David Velchinsky, president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, notes that this pose has become a favorite among photographers. They view it as an iconic shot, valuable for media and marketing, rather than a spontaneous act by the athletes.
Interestingly, this tradition doesn’t always go smoothly. David Müller, a silver medalist from the 2010 Winter Olympics, actually broke a tooth while posing for a photo.
In essence, the tradition of athletes biting their Olympic medals is more about creating a memorable and marketable image for the media than testing the authenticity of the gold.
