Are the gold medals they win in the Olympics really gold?

Question

Are the gold medals they win in the Olympics really gold?

Answer 1

No - usually silver with gold plate.

Solid Gold Olympic Champion Michael Phelps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7W45Fr6N...

Answer 2

The term "gold" refers to color, not metallic content (as the medals may contain as little as 6 grams of gold).  The last Olympic gold medals made entirely of gold were awarded at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Winter Games.  The gold and silver Olympic medals must be made out of 92.5 per cent silver, with the gold medal covered in six grams (or .21 ounces) of gold.

In 1896, winners' medals were in fact silver. The custom of gold-silver-bronze for the first three places dates from the 1904 games and has been copied for many other sporting events.

The gold medal is actually made mostly of silver, but must be gilded with at least 6 grams (0.21 ounces) of pure gold according to the International Olympic Committee standard. The silver must be at least 925-1000 grade. This year the Chinese have included one-of-a-kind jade rings that lay imbedded upon one side of the medal. The jade used is one-of-a-kind because it is not man-made and thus uses a substance that is equally unique to that of the athletes' ability it may belong to.

Answer 3

yes.

Answer 4

silver with a thick gold plated finish

Answer 5

of course... it would be pretty stupid if they werent!!!

Answer 6

Actually, a gold medal is made mostly of silver. The main reason is that gold is a fairly soft metal and it alone doesn't make a good medal. Also consider the price of gold nowandays. It would cost a tremendous amount of money to make the medals solid gold. So they take silver and coat it in gold.

Both the silver and gold medals must contain at least 92.5% silver. The only difference between the two medals is the fact that the gold medal is coated by at least 6 grams of 24-carat gold. So yes, the gold medal does have gold in it. However, it is only a coating on top of a silver medal.

Answer 7

YES THEY ARE.

Answer 8

No, chocolate. That's why you always see them trying to bite it when posing.

Answer 9

they are typically silver with a thick gold finish. but who knows. china has changed a lot of things with the olympics and has raised the bar.  

Answer 10

Believe it or not,they're actually made out of recyled aluminium cans and then spray painted.

Answer 11

yup

Answer 12

think so

Answer 13

Will they give  pure gold?i doubt