Bite-sized tradition: Why do Olympic winners bite their medals?

The Olympics, a grand stage for timeless rituals and traditions, embodies humanity's enduring pursuit of greatness and togetherness. From the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic flame to the grandeur of the opening ceremonies, each tradition tells its own unique story. Yet, amidst these historic customs, one curious practice stands out as a quirky relic from the past: athletes biting their medals.

It's a sight as iconic as the Games themselves: athletes, beaming with pride on the podium, their medals catching the light. But as they pose for photographers, many can't resist the impulse to bite their hard-earned honours. Why do they do it?
From a historical tradition to a modern-day money shot
The tradition of biting medals has its roots in history, tracing back to an era when gold was used as currency. Merchants would chomp down on gold coins to test their authenticity, as pure gold is soft and would leave a mark if bitten.

Fast forward to today, and Olympic medals are a far cry from solid gold. They consist of only about 6 grams of gold, with the remainder being silver and other metals. So, the athletes aren’t actually verifying the gold content when they give their medals a nibble. And yet, this quirky tradition has become so entrenched in Olympic culture that it’s almost expected.

What began as a method to test the authenticity of medals has morphed into a celebratory gesture. Today, athletes bite their medals not to check for gold, but as part of the euphoria of their victory and, at times, to comply with photographers’ demands.

Photographers often insist on this medal-biting pose, sometimes coaxing or even pressuring athletes to comply. David Wallechinsky, President of the International Society of Olympic Historians, has pointed out that the medal-biting pose is a coveted “money shot” for photographers.

“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,” Wallechinsky told CNN back in 2012.
Some athletes have even suffered unpleasant consequences from this pose, like German luger David Moeller, who broke his tooth while biting his silver medal in 2010.

Despite the risks, the medal-biting tradition shows no signs of slowing down. It's become an iconic part of the Olympic experience, capturing the thrill of victory in a single, unforgettable image. And as long as photographers keep asking for the shot, athletes will likely keep biting — even if they're not actually checking for real gold.