Britannica Sources used in this answer

How are Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded to athletes?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Curie, Marie and Pierre; medal — medal Pierre and Marie Curie depicted on the obverse of a medal from the Unio Internationalis Contra Cancrum (International Union Against Cancer) commemorating the Curies' discovery of radium in 1898.

Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the top three finishers in individual Olympic events during formal medal ceremonies.12

The process follows specific protocols:
* Placement: The three athletes stand on a rostrum, with the gold medalist in the center, the silver medalist to their right, and the bronze medalist to their left.1
* Presentation: A member of the International Olympic Committee places the medal, which is attached to a ribbon, around the neck of each athlete.1
* Ceremonial Honors: During the presentation, the flags of the athletes' respective countries are raised, and an abbreviated version of the gold medalist's national anthem is played.1

Regarding the composition of the awards, gold medals are required to be at least 92.5 percent silver, coated with approximately six grams of pure gold. Silver medals are also 92.5 percent silver, while bronze medals are composed of copper and other alloys. Athletes placing fourth through eighth receive diplomas, and all competitors and officials are presented with a commemorative medal.312