Why do Athletes bite their medals at the Olympics?

During the Paris 2024 Olympics, we once again witnessed the time-honored tradition of athletes biting into their medals on the podium. A gesture that is repeated regardless of the metal of the prize and which has become a symbol of victory and satisfaction.
But what lies behind this curious custom? Let's explore together the origins and meaning of this ritual.
The origins of the medal biting ritual
The origins of the gesture of bite the medal They are shrouded in mystery, but some theories offer interesting explanations. One of the most accredited refers to 1991, when members of the winning British 4x400m relay team immortalized their victory by grabbing their gold medals.
A gesture that would later become a distinctive symbol passed down over the years, but its roots could be even older. Let's look at other hypotheses.
The bite to verify the authenticity of the gold
Another interesting theory links the gesture to the verification of the authenticity of the gold. During the California gold rush, it was common for prospectors to bite into their finds to test their purity, as real gold is softer than other metals and leaves an imprint when bitten.
Although today's Olympic medals are not made entirely of gold, this gesture could be a reminder of those times, symbolically representing the validation of one's success.
A request from photographers
Another explanation suggests that the gesture of biting the medal became one photographers' request to have a powerful symbolic image, which perfectly captures the joy and pride of the Olympic triumph.
Indeed, photos of athletes biting into medals have become an icon of the Games, used extensively in the media to represent the determination , satisfaction of sporting success.