Olympians biting medals stems from a mix of old-school tradition and modern photo flair. It's become a signature victory pose you'll spot across every Games, from Paris 2024 to the ongoing buzz around Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Historical Roots

Long ago, biting gold was a practical test for authenticity. Pure gold is soft, so teeth marks confirmed it wasn't fake—think gold coins as currency back in the day. That changed in 1912 when the International Olympic Committee switched to gold-plated medals, ditching pure gold entirely.

Even today, gold medals are mostly sterling silver with a thin gold layer, bronze is copper-based, and silver is... well, silver alloy —nothing to chomp for purity checks.

"Athletes used to bite their medals to test the medal's authenticity for gold, when gold was used as a form of currency. That stopped in 1912."

The Real Reason Now: Photographers' Obsession

It's all about that iconic snapshot. Cameras swarm podiums, and snappers yell for the bite—it's dynamic, shows off the medal, and screams "triumph" better than a plain smile. Athletes oblige for the perfect marketable moment, turning ceremonies into viral gold.

Historians like David Wallechinsky note it's photographer-driven: "They view it as an iconic image, something that can likely be marketed." No athlete starts chomping spontaneously—it's prompted for the lens.

Fun Stories and Mishaps

Picture this: German luger David Möller in 2010 bit so hard he chipped a tooth at dinner later—proof not every chomp ends flawlessly. Or Tokyo 2020 organizers tweeting medals aren't edible (recycled from e-waste!), yet athletes still nommed.

  • Playful strength demo : The pose flexes jaw power, adding swagger.
  • Viral tradition : From Reddit rants calling it "dumb" to ELI5 threads explaining the lore, it's endlessly debated online.

Forum Buzz and Trending Takes

Reddit lights up every Olympics—r/OutOfTheLoop, r/TooAfraidToAsk, r/olympics all dissect it. Top view: Pure photo-op. Counterpoint: Some call it cliché or risky for teeth.

One unpopularopinion gem: "Biting your Olympic medal is dumb... go for the gold but don't bite it!" Yet it persists as the must-do ritual.

With Milano Cortina 2026 underway (as of Feb 2026 news), expect fresh bites amid latest podium drama—timely as ever.

Multiple Perspectives

Viewpoint| Why They Bite| Why Not
---|---|---
Historians| Echoes gold-testing era 1| Irrelevant post-1912 5
Athletes/Photogs| Killer photo, celebration vibe 15| Tooth risks, overdone 5
Fans/Forums| Fun tradition, meme fuel 7| Cringe or pointless 4
Dentists| Playful strength show 3| Damage potential! 5

Bottom TL;DR: Not for testing gold anymore—purely for epic pics that capture glory. No edible rewards, just symbolic swagger.

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