Have you ever wondered why athletes always bite their medal after winning the Olympics? Maybe they think they'll take a bite to see if it's really gold? Or is it just a way to get attention?
In the world of sports, biting a gold medal has become so common that it is difficult to imagine winners who would not smile with a medal between their teeth after their triumph. But have you ever wondered why exactly do athletes do it? There is an interesting history behind this unusual practice and some surprising reasons.
History of tradition
The roots of biting on gold medals go way back when people wanted to verify the authenticity of gold. Back in the days when gold counterfeiting was common, people used to bite gold coins to see if they were really gold. Real gold objects are soft and can bend slightly under the pressure of the teeth. Although today's medals are really just gold plated, this tradition has somehow remained.
Gold medals. Photo: PixabayMedia legacy
One of the reasons this tradition has survived has to do with the media and photographers. In this day and age, when sporting events are covered extensively in the media, every moment of triumph is important to document. Photographers have grown to love this image of athletes biting their medals, as it radiates triumph, joy and pride. So it became a regular part of the photo shoot after every major competition.
A connection to gold
Gold as a symbol of wealth, power and success has a special place in the history of mankind. Biting the medal emphasizes achievement and gold as a reward for effort. Although, as already mentioned, the medals are no longer made of pure gold, the symbolism has remained the same. With this act, the athletes also symbolically check the "value" of their victory.
Photo: envatoInteresting stories are also connected with this tradition. One anecdote says that an athlete even broke a tooth biting a medal, which suggests that medals are not as soft as they used to be. There are also cases where athletes are confused as to why they do it in the first place, but follow the tradition anyway because they see it as part of a celebratory moment.
Every time we see an athlete with a medal between our teeth, we smile and remember the symbolism of gold, joy and achievement. So this unusual tradition is likely to live on, as it carries with it more than just the symbol of gold - it carries a story of effort, perseverance and success.
