The sight of an Olympic champion standing on the podium with a beaming smile on their face with a new gold medal is one of the most memorable rituals in the world of sports. Over the years, viewers have associated the glittering prizes with symbols of true victory. Nonetheless, when one takes a second look at the material composition of the revered sports award, they will discover a metallurgical secret that may take most people by surprise.
A mere six grams of gold coat an Olympic gold medal, which is otherwise mostly silver. Rather than being solid gold through and through, modern first-place medals are essentially silver discs that have been given a thin, brilliant outer layer of gilding. The gold that the world sees on television accounts for just a tiny fraction of the entire weight of the medal, transforming a perceived block of solid wealth into an elegant exercise in meticulous gold plating.
