Winning an Olympic gold medal is considered the highest achievement for an athlete, so it makes sense that a physical medal would represent that significance.
What goes on the gold medal at every Olympic Games is always special, but the Paris 2024 edition is especially noteworthy: if an athlete wins it, they'll get to take home a piece of the host city's iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower played a key role in the Opening Ceremony of Paris 2024. From the twinkling lights and Olympic rings to Celine Dion's comeback performance, “La Tour Eiffel” showcased its grandeur to the world. And now, it will become part of the athletes' medal collections.
What else is unique about these gold medals? And what does it have to do with the Eiffel Tower? Here's what you need to know.
How many Olympic medals will be made?
According to multiple reports, some 5,804 medals will be developed for Paris 2024, with around 2,600 medals created for the Olympic Games and 2,400 for the Paralympic Games.
How much does an Olympic gold medal weigh?
A gold medal weighs 1.17 pounds. By comparison, a silver medal weighs 1.16 pounds and a bronze medal weighs 1 pound.
Who designed the Olympic gold medals?
The Olympic medals were designed by Chaumet, a French luxury jewelry and watch brand founded in 1780 and part of LMVH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton).
What are the characteristics of an Olympic gold medal?
An Olympic gold medal is made up of three elements: a hexagon, sparkle and a setting.
The medal features a hexagon in the center, a tribute to France's nickname “L'hexagone” (the hexagon), given to the country's roughly hexagonal shape.
The hexagon is surrounded by several string-like shapes, which symbolize shining light, and why Paris is often referred to as the “City of Light.”
The six sides of the hexagon are set with prongs, similar to those found on the Eiffel Tower.
The Olympic rings are lit up on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games. (Photo: Ludovic Marin-Pool/Getty)
What is the connection to the Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower was the centerpiece of the World's Fair in 1889. The original tower was made from wrought iron.
When the Eiffel Tower underwent renovation in the 20th century, the original pieces of iron were preserved and stored, and they form the hexagonal shape in the center of the Olympic Gold Medal.
According to multiple reports, each medal contains 0.04 pounds of iron fragments used in the Eiffel Tower's renovation.
Gold, silver and bronze medals began at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics. 1,011 medals are expected to be awarded in Paris in 2024. This will be the first time that a piece of the city's historic architecture will be included on an Olympic medal.
How much is an Olympic gold medal worth?
According to Forbes, a gold medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics will be worth about $950.
What happens at the Medal Ceremony?
The gold medal will be placed around the winner's neck on the podium. The athlete will also receive a souvenir of a stuffed Paris 2024 mascot. The winning athlete's national anthem will then be played, a tradition that began at the gold medal winners' awards ceremony in 1932.
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For more information about the Paris 2024 Olympics, Athletic…
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