The 2024 Paris Olympics have kicked off, and the peculiar habit of athletes biting their medals has left many spectators wondering about the reasons behind this odd ritual.
If I were to win an Olympic medal, I imagine I’d be far too shocked to pose for photos.
Despite this, with the Olympics in full swing, some medalists continue the tradition of biting their medals.
This year, notable athletes like Team GB’s star diver Tom Daley have been seen nibbling on their medals.
While it certainly makes for a memorable photo, it has led some to question the practice, especially given potential safety risks.
In 2010, David Moeller, a German Luger at the Vancouver Olympics, reported chipping his tooth while biting his silver medal.
Wouldn’t that make for a unique story: “I chipped my tooth biting down on my OLYMPIC MEDAL.”
The reasoning behind this tradition is somewhat complex.
Some believe the custom dates back to the American gold rush of the 1800s.
It is said that since gold is softer than silver or bronze, people would bite into it to verify its authenticity.
Prospectors reportedly bit into gold to test its genuineness.
However, this method does not apply to Olympic medals, as Oxford Economics reports that the gold medals at the Paris Olympics consist of 523 grams of silver, coated in 6 grams of gold.
Another explanation suggests the trend is simply driven by photographers seeking a good shot.
David Wallechinsky, president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, explained to CNN that photographers often request medalists to bite their medals.
“It’s become an obsession with the photographers,” Wallechinsky said. “I think they look at it as an iconic shot, as something that you can probably sell.
“I don’t think it’s something the athletes would probably do on their own.”
Frank Farley, a professor from Temple University in Philadelphia and former president of the American Psychological Association, believes the tradition can have a personal significance for the athletes involved.
He stated: “Sports all have their eccentricities. If you want to be part of the winning zeitgeist, that winning culture, you participate in that winning practice.
“It makes your medal yours. It’s an emotional connection with your accomplishment.”