Olympic events are far from a modern invention. These competitions have taken place in various forms for thousands of years, beginning in Ancient Greece when athletes gathered in Olympia to test their strength and skill. The modern Olympic Games, however, officially began in 1896.
Since those first Games in Athens, nearly every aspect of the Olympics has evolved — from the number of participating athletes to the range of sports included. The 1896 event did not allow women to compete, but by the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, 22 female athletes took part.
One of the most striking changes over time has been in the design of the Olympic medals. Although certain motifs have reappeared at multiple Games, each set of medals remains distinct. Athletes such as Michael Phelps, who have collected many Olympic medals, can look back on a personal gallery of evolving designs.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris continued this long tradition, showcasing yet another unique interpretation of what an Olympic medal represents. The medal ceremonies remain among the most memorable moments of the Games, symbolizing years of dedication and achievement. Whether bronze, silver, or gold, each medal is a lasting emblem of an athlete’s place in Olympic history.
To illustrate how these designs have transformed through the decades, 24/7 Tempo consulted sources including AP News, Business Insider, and the official Olympics website. Below is a look at some of the most notable Olympic medal designs and how they have changed over time.
Paris 2024 Olympic Medal Designs
As the Summer Olympics returned to Paris last year, a new medal design has emerged. The design of the 2024 Olympic medal captures the heart of Paris, not only because of the design but also because an original piece of the Eiffel Tower is included in each medal.
Paris 1924 Olympic Medals Displayed Sportsmanship
One side of the Paris 1924 Olympic medal displays a winning athlete lending a helping hand to his competition. This picture shows the mold that was used to create the medals.
1924 Olympic Medal Designed by André Rivaud
The 1924 Olympic medal, designed by André Rivaud, featured a harp on one side. The harp forms an arch and the words VIIIe OLYMPIADE PARIS 1924 are inscribed on the medal.
Paris 2024 Paralympic Medals Revealed
With each Olympic event, a new design is created for the Olympics and the Paralympics. This year, the Paralympic medal design also includes an original piece of the Eiffel Tower in the center.
Heike Henkel Holds Her Gold Medal After the 1992 Summer Olympics
Here, Olympian Heike Henkel holds her medal after winning gold in the Women’s High Jump event. The 1992 medal design had the Goddess of Victory on one side and the official emblem of Barcelona on the other.
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Medals
Each Olympic event has different medal designs for the Olympics and Paralympics. Here is a close-up of the medals from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Medals during the Men’s 200-meter event.
Gold and Bronze Medals During the 2020 Paralympics
Nothing could make an Olympian feel more accomplished than winning a medal in the games. Here, two athletes from the Brazilian team hold a bronze and gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
Three Judo Champions Display Their 1972 Olympic Medals
The 1972 Summer Olympics were held in Munich. Here, three judo champions proudly hold their Olympic medals based on the design used since the 1928 Olympics.
The Olympic Medals Won by Agnes Keleti in 1952 and 1956
Agnes Keleti is a Hungarian gymnast who won 10 Olympic medals during her athletic career. Her medals from the 1952 and 1956 Olympics are displayed here with similar designs. She is currently the oldest living Olympic champion at 103 years old.
London 2012 Olympic Medal Presented to Jared Tallent
Here, Australian racewalker Jared Tallent finally received his gold medal nearly four years after the London 2012 Olympics. The initial winner of the race was later disqualified due to his testing positive for banned substances. The 2012 Olympic medals were 85 millimeters in diameter.
Ryan Held Holds the Rio 2016 Olympic Medal
The design of the Rio 2016 Olympic medal was simpler than most. However, the bronze and silver medals were created with 30% recyclable materials and the gold medals used recycled silver.
Swedish Olympian Wears His 1980 Olympic Gold Medal
There was a lot of tension during the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games due to a boycott led by the United States. Still, the games went on. Here, Swedish athlete Bengt Baron stands with his gold medal, which had the same design as the 1976 medal but with some additional symbols.
Florence Griffith Joyner Shows Her Olympic Medals from the 1988 Olympics
Florence Griffith Joyner, known as Flo-Jo, was an Olympic athlete who won three gold medals and one silver at the Seoul 1988 Olympics. The gold medals at the 1988 Olympics had five grams of real gold.
1956 Melbourne Olympic Medals Displayed at Betty Cuthbert’s Funeral
Betty Cuthbert was an Olympic runner who won four Olympic gold medals during her time in the Olympics. Her Olympic medals were displayed at her funeral in 2017. The medals displayed are from the Melbourne 1956 and Tokyo 1964 Olympic games.
1984 Summer Olympic Medal is Displayed at the Sports Legends Auction
The Sports Legends Auction took place in 2020 and included more than 300 artifacts from different athletic events. Here, the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics medal is displayed. This medal had the same design on the front as the previous Olympic event but the back featured an Olympian being carried by a crowd.
1968 Winter Olympic Medal Displayed at a Press Preview
A 1968 Winter Olympic medal was displayed at a press preview event in 2020. This was the first time in Olympic history that a different medal was created for each Olympic discipline. One side had the official emblem while the other had an image representing the specific discipline.
1984 Olympic Medal on Display
Another one of the medals displayed at the 2020 press preview was the 1984 Olympic medal. This medal was made up of the same materials as the medals at the previous Olympic event but had a different design on the back.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Gold Medal on Display
The Beijing 2008 Olympic medals were unique because they included jade for the first time. Here the 2008 medal is on display during a press preview in 2020.
London 2012 Olympic Medals Designed by David Watkins
David Watkins, a British artist, had the privilege of designing the medals for the London 2012 Olympics. One part of the design was meant to represent the River Thames in London.
The Goddess of Victory was displayed on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Medals
The Olympic medals from the 2008 Olympics were meant to represent the traditions of the event as well as Chinese culture. On one side, the Goddess of Victory is displayed. The design was meant to represent ethics and honor.
Athens 2004 Olympic Medal Includes Words from the Eighth Olympic Ode
The medals from the Athens 2004 Olympics were different from previous years. Here, a Judo champion proudly displays the back of the medal, which includes the Olympic emblem, the eternal flame, and part of the Eighth Olympic Ode.
Athens 2004 Medals Display Nike Flying for the First Time
While the previous Olympic medal designs included Nike, the Goddess of Victory, sitting, the 2004 design included her flying for the first time. This was the first major change in the medal design since 1928.
Three Olympic Athletes Hold Their 1976 Olympic Gold Medal
During the 1976 Olympics, three pentathlon winners proudly held up their medals. The 1976 Olympic Medal design was originally created by Giuseppe Cassioli for the 1928 Games.
Original Medals from the First Modern Olympic Event
The first modern Olympic event took place in Athens in 1896. At this event, the winning athletes received a medal with a picture of Zeus holding Nike, the Goddess of Victory.
The Unveiling of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Medals
At the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the 2000 Olympic Medal design was unveiled. One side included the traditional medal design with the Goddess of Victory.
The 2000 Olympic Medals Displayed During a Press Conference
During the press conference where the 2000 Olympic medals were revealed, the gold, silver, and bronze medals were on display. The back of the design represented the Sydney Opera House and the Olympic Eternal Flame.
The 1996 Design Celebrated 100 Years of the Olympics
The Atlanta 1996 Olympics was the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic games. To celebrate this milestone, the design included the words “Centennial Olympic Games” on the back. (Don’t miss the 7 Iconic Stories of Sportsmanship From the Summer Olympics.)
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Photo by Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images.