The image is iconic: a triumphant athlete, medal gleaming, teeth sinking into their hard-earned prize. From the exhilaration of the Olympics to the podiums of world championships, the medal bite has become a ubiquitous gesture in modern sports celebrations. The celebrated 1991 Great Britain 4x100m relay team, including Derek Redmond, John Regis, Roger Black, and Kriss Akabusi, were among the early adopters, playfully biting their medals in Tokyo.
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Two decades later, sporting legends like Michael Phelps continued the tradition, and the medal bite’s appeal extended beyond track and field. Football stars like Gareth Bale and tennis icons such as Rafael Nadal have all been captured commemorating their wins with a celebratory chomp. But what are the roots of this curious custom that compels athletes to bite down on their medals?
The Historical Reason: Testing for Gold Purity
The act of biting medals actually has historical origins rooted in verifying the authenticity of precious metals. Historically, gold was a soft and malleable metal. One way to test if a gold coin or item was genuine was to bite into it. Real gold would be soft enough to leave teeth marks, while cheaper metals or gold-plated fakes would resist indentation.
While today’s Olympic gold medals are primarily made of silver and copper with only a thin gold plating (a mere 1.34% gold, or roughly 6 grams), the historical association with testing gold for purity lingers. In the past, this bite was a practical test; today, it’s a symbolic echo of that tradition.
The Modern Reason: A Photographer’s Dream
In the contemporary sporting world, the medal bite is largely attributed to the demands of photographers. David Wallechinsky, President of the International Society of Olympic Historians, highlighted this in a 2012 CNN interview. He suggested that photographers have come to see the medal bite as an “iconic shot,” a visually compelling image that is highly marketable.
Wallechinsky believes that the medal bite isn’t necessarily something athletes would spontaneously do on their own. Instead, it has become a practiced ritual, almost an expectation from the media capturing the victorious moment. Alongside classic smiling poses with their medals, athletes often oblige photographers with the now-expected bite.
Is the Medal Bite Safe? A Word of Caution
While mostly harmless, the medal bite isn’t without its risks. German luger David Moeller, a silver medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, learned this firsthand when he chipped a tooth during his medal-biting celebration. Medals, despite not being solid gold, are still hard objects, and biting them with force can pose a risk to dental health.
Conclusion: Tradition and the Perfect Shot
The athlete’s medal bite is a fascinating blend of historical practice and modern media culture. While its roots might lie in the practical gold purity tests of the past, its continued prevalence in modern sports is largely driven by its photogenic appeal. Whether a nod to history, a response to photographers’ requests, or simply a spontaneous expression of joy, the medal bite remains a powerful and enduring symbol of athletic achievement.
