Why are the Olympians biting their medals?

Photographers hound athletes to “bite” their medals. “It’s become an obsession with the photographers,” David Wallechinsky, president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, told CNN in 2012. Real gold is softer than human teeth and, therefore, would be left with a mark if bitten, according to CNN.

Why shouldn’t athletes bite their medals?

It begs the question: why do athletes feel the urge to bite their medals? The answer appears to be two-fold. Traditionally, anyone wanting to check on the purity of gold has bitten into it, as the metal is soft and malleable, and teeth marks will leave an imprint.

Why do gymnasts bite their medals?

While Olympic historians aren’t sure which athlete started the trend, they believe the athletes nibble their prizes to test the metal. People once bit gold coins try to make an indent; a small tooth mark in a coin assured it consisted of real gold, which is more malleable than counterfeit gold-plated lead coins.

Do Olympians keep their medals?

Some Olympians choose to keep their medals and may display them in their homes, while others find unique places to hide the awards. Skier Mikaela Shiffrin told NBC after the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics that she keeps her medals in her sock drawer.

What is the value of an Olympic gold medal?

about $870
Olympic gold – The gold medal contains 550 grams of silver ($490) covered in 6 grams of gold plating ($380). That puts its monetary value at about $870.

Why do athletes put medals in their mouths?

“It’s become an obsession with the photographers,” David Wallechinsky, president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, told CNN. Shutterbugs consider the medal biting pose to be the shot that can make it to the front page of next day’s newspaper and hence request the athletes to do so.

Why do Olympians get condoms?

The tradition of handing out condoms at the Olympics dates back to the 1988 Games in Seoul. The goal was to encourage safe sex and spread awareness of HIV and AIDS.

What is the value of Olympic medals?

Olympic gold – The gold medal contains 550 grams of silver ($490) covered in 6 grams of gold plating ($380). That puts its monetary value at about $870.

How do Olympians store their medals?

Some Olympians choose to keep their medals and may display them in their homes, while others find unique places to hide the awards.