 for a closer look at the Tokyo 2020 Games medals

As the Olympic Games begin, the world's best athletes compete for first-of-its kind medals - the same hue as the past, but history-making for modern times.

 In ancient Greece's Olympics, victors received wreaths made of olive branches taken from the sacred olive tree of Zeus at the sanctuary site of Olympia. 

 Modern Olympic Games began in 1896 in Athens, Greece. 1st-place winners received a silver medal, olive branch, & diploma; 2nd-place winners rec'd a bronze medal, laurel branch, & diploma. The 1904 Games in St. Louis began the tradition of awarding gold, silver, & bronze medals to the top 3 finalists.

"The gold, silver and bronze medals ... not only represent the greatest honor for the athletes but also an opportunity for Japan to showcase its culture & charm to the rest of the world."

Tokyo 2020 Olympic website. Each host city designs the medals awarded to Olympians & Paralympians following these three requirements: Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, must be pictured in front of the Panathinaikos Stadium (site of the 1896 Games in Athens), they must include the official name of the games, & the Olympic five rings symbol must be visible. 

: First-place winners receive a gold medal *but* the medal is

 mostly made of pure silver plated with 6 grams of gold.

They weigh about 1.20 pounds. Solid gold medals have not been awarded since the 1912 Games. 

and weigh about the same as gold medals. 

 (which is 95% copper and 5% zinc). The third-place medal is the lightest and weighs about 0.99 pounds. 

Where did the metal come from to make the medals this year? 100% from recycled materials collected from donated products (small electronics). For the first time ever, Olympic and Paralympic medal production involved the greater public, asking for items to make the medals.

Athletes from around the world will compete for about 5,000 gold, silver, and bronze medals. 

Now You Know

Olympic Medals

Click here for a closer look at the Tokyo 2020 Games medals

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Quick. Concise. Nonpartisan.

Emily Hooker