Olympic Medal Whole List
Olympic medals since 1928 have featured the same design on the front: a Greek goddess, the Olympic Rings, the coliseum of ancient Athens, a Greek vase known as an amphora, a horse-drawn chariot, and the year, number of the Olympiad, and host city. Additionally, each host city is allowed to add special details to the design. Also, each host city is allowed to design the reverse of the medal. The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) has selected the ACOG logo plus a pictogram of the particular sport the medal is being awarded for.
1896 Athens Olympic
First place winners were awarded a silver medal, an olive branch and a diploma. Those in second place were given a copper medal, a branch of laurel and a diploma.
The obverse side of the medal has Zeus' face along with his hand holding a globe with the winged victory on it, with the caption in Greek "Olympia". The reverse side had the Acropolis site with the caption in Greek "International Olympic Games in Athens in 1896."
1900 Paris Olympic
On the reverse, the goddess Nike, goddess of victory, standing on a globe. She is holding a laurel crown in her left hand and a palm leaf in her right hand. In front of her, a great crown, with in the centre a space for putting the name of the sports disciplines. Behind Nike, the bust of Zeus on a plinth. The ins cription "UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION ST.-LOUIS U.S.A". The design of these two sides was inspired by the medal of the 1896 Athens Games and 1900 Paris Games.
1904 St. Louis Olympic
On the obverse, an athlete standing on some steps, holding in his right hand a laurel crown, symbol of victory, and raising his left arm. In the background, a bas relief illustrating the sports disciplines from Antiquity. Behind, a Greek temple. Above the figure of the athlete, the ins cription "OLYMPIAD" and on the rock bottom right "1904".
2004 Athens Olympic
The main feature of the medals is the Greek character shown on both sides, since their basic side has been changed for the first time since the Amsterdam Olympic Games in 1928. This is of particular importance, as from now on all Olympic medals will reflect the Greek character of the Games as regards both their origin and their revival.
On the medals awarded to Olympic athletes from 1928 until the Sydney Games, goddess Nike was seated, holding an ear of corn in one hand and a wreath in the other. Here, she flies into the stadium bringing victory to the best athlete. The Organising Committee has chosen to show the Panathenic stadium, where the Games were first renewed in 1896. On the obverse, the athlete's discipline is also engraved.
The reverse side of the medal is composed of three elements: The eternal flame that was lit in Olympia and travelled through the five continents by way of the 2004 Torch Relay; the opening lines of Pindar's Eighth Olympic Ode composed in 460 BC to honour the victory of Alkimedon of Aegina in wrestling and the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games emblem.
The design of the Medal was created by Elena Votsi.
About the list
Items index
- 1896 Athens Olympic
- 1900 Paris Olympic
- 1904 St. Louis Olympic
- 1908 Lodon Olympic
- 1912 Stockholm Olympic
- 1920 Antwerp Olympic
- 1924 Paris Olympic
- 1928 Amsterdam Olympic
- 1932 Los Angeles Olympic
- 1946 Berlin Olympic
- 1948 London Olympic
- 1952 Helsinki Olympic
- 1956 Melbourne Olympic
- 1960 Rome Olympic
- 1964 Tokyo Olympic
- 1968 Mexico Olympic
- 1972 Munich Olympic
- 1976 Montreal Olympic
- 1980 Moscow Olympic
- 1984 Los Angeles Olympic
- 1998 Seoul Olympic
- 1992 Barcelona Olympic
- 1996 Sydney Olympic
- 2000 Sydney Olympic
- 2004 Athens Olympic