It’s some weird tradition they’ve started doing that I either never noticed before or it’s new. People used to bite gold coins to prove they were real gold since gold is soft enough to leave a tooth mark, but I don’t know if that’s related to this or what. You couldn’t do that with silver or bronze.
I always associated it with Underdog (the superhero) as he bites the coins he’s tipped as a shoe shine to test their authenticity, quite often with disappointing results.
David Wallechinsky, President of the International Society of Olympic Historians told CNN in 2012, “It’s become an obsession with the photographers. 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.”
i know china does this with gold tender, i’m not sure if this is just chinese, or if this is more global, but when doing transactions it’s customary to take a nips to the gold to make sure it’s solid gold all the way through so eventually it ends up with a number of little bite marks in it.
It’s some weird tradition they’ve started doing that I either never noticed before or it’s new. People used to bite gold coins to prove they were real gold since gold is soft enough to leave a tooth mark, but I don’t know if that’s related to this or what. You couldn’t do that with silver or bronze.
It started in 1991. It started because a photographer thought it would make a good photo.
https://olympic-speakers.com/news/why-do-athletes-bite-medals#:~:text=The successful World Championship winning,doing the honours in Tokyo.
Huh. I totally don’t remember seeing it before now, but I’ve certainly watched my share of Oylmpics since the 90s.
Memory is a weird thing.
I always associated it with Underdog (the superhero) as he bites the coins he’s tipped as a shoe shine to test their authenticity, quite often with disappointing results.
I do too.
“Thank you, Shoe Shine Boy, you’re humble and lovable.”
“Bless you, sir.”
That’s crazy, I thought it was from the meme.
Olympic gold medals are also all silver with a thin gold coating.
holds the most prestigious sporting events in the world
fanfare and advertising galore
too cheap to award actual gold medals
mfw 🙄
It’s not like you’re gonna trade them for their material value.
That was my whole plan, though! I was gonna get good enough at something to go get a gold medal, and then hock it for that sweet sweet cash
Best I can do is $20 and a Chipotle burrito
DEAL!
(Man this chump doesn’t know food prices huh?!)
Sponsor deals you get for winning gold are much much much more though.
Way back in the day they used to be real gold, but, you know, real gold isn’t the most sturdy thing in the world.
You could if you had a titanium grill and the enlarged jaw of someone who abuses stimulants.
Sadly, Richard Kiel is no longer with us.
Yeah I don’t know it was a tradition and though “are they making sure the IOC didn’t cheap out on the gold medals?”
i know china does this with gold tender, i’m not sure if this is just chinese, or if this is more global, but when doing transactions it’s customary to take a nips to the gold to make sure it’s solid gold all the way through so eventually it ends up with a number of little bite marks in it.