Olympic medals are made of gold, silver and bronze.
Olympic medals are given to athletes who come first, second and third in each Olympic event.
Gold is for first, silver is for second and bronze is for third.
Olympic Medal presentation
Medals are presented to the winning athletes at a ceremony soon after the event. The winner of the gold medal stands in the centre of the podium on the highest step. The winner of the silver medal stands on the winner's right, and the winner of the bronze stands on the left.
The medals are placed around the neck of each winner. The national anthem of the gold medal winner's country is played. The flag of each medal winner's country is raised.
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What are Olympic medals made of?
Gold and silver medals are 92.5% silver.
Gold medals must covered with at least 6 grams of gold.
Olympic medals must be at least 3 mm thick and at least 60 mm in diameter.
Bronze medals are bronze, which is an an alloy (a mixture) of copper and usually tin.
Did you know?
At the first modern Olympics in 1896, the medals awarded to winning athletes were made of silver. Second and third place winners were given bronze medals.
in 1900, winners received cups or trophies
1912 was the last time that gold Olympic medals were made entirely of gold.
At the ancient Olympic Games which began in 776 B.C competitors didn't receive medals. The best athletes were crowned with wreaths made of olive leaves or the leaves of the laurel tree.
Also, at the ancient Games, only the winning athlete received a prize. Coming second or third counted for nothing!
Sometimes the winners had statues made, and songs were written them.
Olympic medals are different for each Olympic Games. They are designed especially for each individual Olympic Games by the host city's organising committee.
You can find a list of all the Olympic medals ever won by each country here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-time_Olympic_Games_medal_table
