Do you know why athletes bite medals?

Miscellaneous / by admin / May 02, 2023

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In fact, this tradition has no special meaning today.

If you follow the Olympic Games, you probably noticed that after the competition, athletes, posing for photographers, try their medals on the tooth. And many people are wondering why?

The answer is very simple: it is a tradition. And, most likely, this gesture came into fashion because of the journalists.

This pose with a medal in the mouth has become a mania for photographers. I guess they see it as recognizable - the one that will help to make a well-selling picture. Athletes don't pose like that on their own.

David Wallechinsky

President of the International Society of Olympic Historians

But where did this come from? tradition? Well, the habit of biting gold coins dates back to ancient times. Gold is a soft metal, and teeth leave a dent in it. And because the merchants checked in this way authenticity earned money.

Interestingly, at the three Olympic Games - in 1904, 1908 and 1912 - athletes were indeed awarded medals of pure gold. And when the winners, at the request of the reporters, bit them, it made some sense. But the participants of all later competitions received awards made of silver with gilding - this made it possible to save money. And trying them on the tooth was just a beautiful gesture on camera.

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It's just not safe to do so. So, at the 2010 Winter Olympics, the German luger David Möller won a silver medal, bit her and broke own tooth. And after that, who will talk about the benefits of sports?