The 2012 Olympic Games finally closed last week in
London. It sure seems like the time flew by so fast. We had a chance to see
some amazing performances from the swimming pool to the gymnasium. The level of
competition continues to grow each year and while it seems impossible at times
that an athlete could attain a new world record….records always seems to be broken!
Michael Phelps has now attained more Gold Medals than any other athlete in
Olympic history!
Have you ever wondered…What are Olympic medals made
of? Are the gold medals actually 24 carat gold? The last Olympic medal actually
made from gold was back in 1912. So, if the gold isn’t really solid gold, what
is it made from? Well, the exact design and composition is determined by the
host city’s organizing committee. However, the committee must abide by a
certain standard:
Gold and silver medals must be 92.5% silver
Gold medals must be plated with at least 6 grams of
gold
All Olympic medals must be at least 60 mm in
diameter and at least 3 mm thick
Bronze medals are actually bronze… which is an
alloy of copper and usually tin. At the 1896 Olympics, winning athletes were
awarded silver medals and the runner ups got the bronze medal. The custom of
awarding gold, silver and bronze began with the 1904 Olympics.
So, how can you get a solid gold medal? Well,
before 1980 the Nobel Prize medal was 23 carat gold..….the newer ones are 18
carats green gold plated with 24 carat gold….but that’s another story.
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