Why do Olympic winners bite their gold medals?

As the world watches in awe, Olympic champions proudly stand on the podium, their shining gold medals draped around their necks. But have you ever wondered why they often bite their medals? This quirky tradition has sparked curiosity among fans and non-fans alike.

The origin of this custom dates back to ancient Greece, where gold was a highly valued commodity and a form of currency. To verify the authenticity of gold, people would bite into it. If it were genuine, the gold would leave a mark on the teeth. This simple yet effective method helped distinguish real gold from fake or adulterated metal.

Fast-forward to modern times, and the tradition has evolved into a symbolic gesture. Olympic winners bite their medals as a way to celebrate their victory and show it off to the world at the grandest stage.

However, Olympic champions aren't checking for purity when they pose for photos with the metal disc in their mouths. So, why do they still bite their medals? The answer lies in the world of photography.

The medal bite has become an iconic photo opportunity for photographers. The visual of a champion biting their medal makes for a compelling image that's likely to get etched in the minds of fans worldwide.

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“I noticed a bit of one of my teeth was missing” - Silver medalist David Moeller after biting the medal

The tradition of Olympic winners biting their gold medals has a straightforward explanation. It's not about checking the medal's authenticity or purity but rather a response to photographers' requests for an iconic shot.

As David Wallechinsky, President of the International Society of Olympic Historians and author of The Complete Book of the Olympics, notes:

“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.” (via CNN)

This simple act has become a staple of photography, but it can also be hazardous to athletes' teeth, such as the case of David Moeller, a German luger who broke his tooth while biting his silver medal in the 2010 Winter Games.

“The photographers wanted a picture of me holding the medal just with my teeth. Later at dinner, I noticed a bit of one of my teeth was missing,” said Moeller to Bild, a German newspaper.