Olympic medals aren't quite what they seem. Despite their gleaming names, gold, silver, and bronze medals follow strict International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards for composition, prioritizing symbolism over solid precious metals.

Core Materials

Gold medals consist mostly of silver—at least 92.5% pure—with a thin plating of at least 6 grams of pure gold for that iconic shine. Silver medals match this 92.5% silver base without gold plating. Bronze medals blend copper (around 95%), tin, and zinc, creating a true alloy rather than pure metal.

Paris 2024 Specifics

The 2024 Paris Games added flair: each medal embeds a hexagonal iron piece from the Eiffel Tower, sourced sustainably alongside recycled metals from the Paris Mint. Gold and silver retained the classic plating over silver cores, while bronze stuck to copper alloys—all electroplated, polished, and inspected for quality.

Medal Type| Primary Material| Key Alloy/Plating| Weight (approx.)| Notes 7
---|---|---|---|---
Gold| 92.5% Silver| ≥6g pure gold| 455–500g| Not solid gold; plated for shine 25
Silver| 92.5% Silver| None| 455–500g| Purest of the trio 19
Bronze| ~95% Copper| Tin, zinc| 455g| Symbolic value far exceeds ~$4.60 melt cost 7

Historical Evolution

These standards date back decades, evolving from early solid gold versions (pre-1912) to cost-effective alloys amid growing athlete numbers. Recent Games emphasize sustainability, like Paris's recycled metals and Eiffel iron—setting trends for future eco-focused designs.

TL;DR: Gold medals = silver core + gold plating; silver = sterling silver; bronze = copper alloy. Paris 2024's Eiffel Tower twist made them extra memorable.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.