sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
How much 2024 Paris Olympic Games gold medals are really worth
Home>Other
Published 08:51 30 Jul 2024 GMT+1

How much 2024 Paris Olympic Games gold medals are really worth

How much are Olympic gold medals really worth?

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Team GB are hoping to win plenty of gold medals at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but how much are the medals actually worth?

Winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of any athlete's career, and already Team GB have secured two.

The first came in the equestrian team eventing, with Team GB defending the gold medal they won in Tokyo three years ago.

That was followed by Tom Pidcock winning gold in the men's mountain biking with a stunning come-from-behind victory.

Advert

Japan currently top the medal table with six gold medals, with hosts France second with five.

A gold medal is the physical representation of years of hard work and sacrifice, but what is the monetary worth of the metal disc on the end of a ribbon?

Surprisingly, gold medals aren't actually made of pure gold. In fact, they are mostly made of silver.

An Olympic gold medal is required to be made from at lest 92.5 percent silver, and only has to contain six grams of gold.

In contrast, the silver and bronze medals are made entirely from their respective metals.

Tom Pidcock won gold in the mountain biking.
Tom Pidcock won gold in the mountain biking.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, gold medals were worth around £540, silvers were worth £297 and the bronze medals were valued at £5. Seriously, copper and zinc are extremely common metals.

That said, historic medals have sold for incredible amounts. Back in 2013, one of Jesse Owen's golds from the 1936 Berlin Olympics - that he won in front of Adolf Hitler - sold for a mega $1.46 million (£1.13 million).

The design for this year's Olympic medals is pretty unique, with a hexagonal design with an iron sculpture of the Eiffel Tower on top of the medal. The special feature adds an additional 18 grams to the medal weight.

Joachim Roncin, head of design at the Paris Games organising committee, said: "Having a gold medal is already something incredible. But we wanted to add this French touch and we thought that the Eiffel Tower would be this cherry on top.

"Having a piece of it is a piece of history."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Olympics, Athletics

Alex Brotherton
Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a journalist at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He can often be found watching dreadful non-league football.

X

@alex_brotherton

Recommended reads

Thierry Henry on his ‘big brother’ France teammate, biggest influence and the discipline that defines himGetty Images'He battered me for it' - Lionel Messi's shirt ended up with ex England star Jack Wilshere after teammate assistGettyThree England stars disagree on the one player from another nation who England needGetty & SPORTbibleTommy Fury disagrees with Tyson's 'no choice' claim as he reveals why he doesn't want his children to boxGetty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

11 hours ago
15 hours ago
a day ago
2 days ago
  • Getty
    11 hours ago

    Harry Brook makes England captaincy decision after Ben Stokes retirement

    Stokes gave Brook his backing to become Test captain upon retiring from international cricket - and the Yorkshire batter has responded.

    Other
  • Getty
    15 hours ago

    Ben Stokes changed mind over retirement announcement plan after Brendon McCullum intervention

    Stokes' retirement was publicly announced during day four of the third Test between England and New Zealand.

    Other
  • Getty
    a day ago

    Ben Stokes told two England players first about retirement plans before Brendon McCullum and Rob Key

    Stokes will stand down as Test captain and retire from international cricket following England's third Test against New Zealand.

    Other
  • Getty Images
    2 days ago

    Ben Stokes announces shock retirement after New Zealand series as England release statement

    The England captain has confirmed that he is stepping away from international cricket.

    Other
  • How Much The 2026 Olympic Medals That Keep Breaking Are Actually Worth
  • US Star Stripped of Olympic Medals and Sent to Prison Now ‘Struggles To Walk’
  • Two Olympic Athletes Made History After Deciding to Share Gold Medal
  • Seven-time Olympic gold medallist planning remarkable athletics comeback at LA28 aged 42