Simone Biles with her many metals (NBC Olympics).
Do some athletes in the Olympics have Pica, so they chew on medals? Is it a right of honor to munch on your metal reward? There is a reason behind it, and it’s not because athletes need more iron in their diet. We often forget that athletic competition began in 776 BC, and some of the traditions during the games today originate from back then. Let’s talk about the historical background of biting on medals.
The History Of The Olympics
If you go into the way-back machine, the first Olympics were in the 700 BCs. They were originally religious in nature and were done in Olympia in a holy location. There was a festival held in a religious sanctuary that honored Zeus, who lives on Mount Olympus, and the thunderbolt he shot into the earth upon his trip above was in the area where the Olympics occurred.
The athletic competition was always a huge deal and a draw for the celebration of religion and shopping in the region. There were over 70 different alters, including Zeus, making it a hot commodity for people wishing to worship their makers. Also, anyone looking to have their wares of any kind purchased would go to the games to sell. There was a huge audience, and many people got famous by rocking it at the Olympics.
By Roman times, things were different, though. Zeus got ousted from the ceremony. The games were also done every day, year-round. They were a huge attraction because of their athleticism alone. The marketing aspect of sports also increased, with stores and stands making a profit from a continuous flow of visitors. It’s interesting because some of our Olympic traditions date back to an even earlier time, with things like how often the events occurred.
The Medal Biting Phenomena
Olympic medals and other things made of gold, like coins, were all subjected to the bite test. This is because back in ancient times, untrustworthy people would try to bamboozle people by passing other metals with a golden appearance outside as the real deal. If you bit into your coin or medal and your teeth left a mark, that meant it was real gold, since it is very soft. However, if you didn’t leave a tooth impression, you were being deceived. Athletes who competed in the early Olympics would always make sure to do this, hence the tradition that exists today.
Obviously, nowadays no one is testing the content of their gold metal with their teeth. All-gold metals were discontinued in 1912, and today they only contain 6 grams of gold and are roughly 92.5% silver. Most athletes will tell you that they only do it because the sports media requests it. You have to be careful too; you may do some permanent damage to your chompers. Don’t worry, though; they’ll be able to use the silver in your “gold” medal to fill the cracks. Who knew the secret skills test of the event was the ability to chew on a medal without losing a tooth? Would you have what it takes to be an Olympic athlete, tooth-wise? Sound off below!
