Did you know athletes who win one of the 7 gold medals on Feb. 15, 2014 will receive medals that include meteorite fragments? Discover other facts around creating Olympic gold, then and now.

1. THE MAKING OF OLYMPIC GOLD

2. As the creator of the medals for the 2002 Winter
Games in Salt Lake City, O.C. Tanner knows what it
takes to craft the ultimate Olympic reward. Here’s a
look back at what it took 12 years ago, and how Sochi
medal-maker Adamas is creating the medals today.

3. SALT LAKE 2002
An athlete emerged from a mountain of rock
and ice, which represented the resilience of
the human spirit. The figure also carried a
torch symbolizing the 2002 Games’ theme,
“Light the Fire Within.” This marked the first
time an organizing committee’s visions
statement was included on the medal itself.
FRONT

4. SALT LAKE 2002
Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, is
depicted holding a small leaf. This
symbolized the olive wreaths that were
presented to winners of the ancient Olympic
Games. Within Nike’s embrace, there was an
illustration of the athletic event. The 2002
Games emblem and the name of the event
was engraved on each medal.
BACK

5. SALT LAKE 2002
The medals were designed in the shape of river rocks, like those found in Utah's streams and rivers.
Part modern and part rustic, these medals embodied the spirit of the American West from the forging
of the West to the technological present. Artisans hand-finished every single medal to bring out their
unique characteristics.
2000˚
14k
x2
At 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the precious
metals were brought together. The metal was
rolled into half-inch thick sheets, then
hit twice with 14,000 pounds per square
inch. After pressing the metal, the edges
were removed with a water jet applying
50,000 pounds per square inch.
With the gold medals, a sterling silver
base was plated with six grams of 24 carat
gold. It was then coated with a dark
antique and then hand finished to bring out
the small details resulting in a rich three
dimensional field.
Silver medals were oxidized into a rich
charcoal color.
6 GRAMS
Bronze medals were plated with the fine
coating of rose gold then dipped in an
antiquing solution.
20oz
weight
85mm
diameter
.47in
thickness
20hrs
per medal
861
total medals
presented
minted by
O.C. TANNER

6. SOCHI 2014
The 2014 medals represent the landscape of
Sochi. Snowy mountain tops reflect the sun’s
rays onto the sandy beaches of the Black Sea
coast. The mosiac “patchwork quilt” of
national designs represent the various
culture and ethnicities of the Russian people.
FRONT

7. SOCHI 2014
The back of the medal depicts the Sochi
2014 emblem with Olympic rings, as well as
the competition name in English.
BACK

8. SOCHI 2014
Athletes who win one of the seven gold medals on
February 15, 2014 will receive medals that include
meteorite fragments. The date commemorates
the one-year anniversary of the meteor strike in
Chelyabinsk in the southern part of the country.
16oz
weight
100mm
diameter
.4in
thickness
“XXII
OLYMPIC
WINTER
GAMES
”
INSCRIBED ON THE RIM
IN THREE LANGUAGES:
The thick plate of metal is casted through a
method of semi-continuous casting. The cast
metal is rolled in a multi-tone rolling mill.
A combination of manual work (polishing) and
ultra-modern technology is used (the "patchwork
quilt" design is applied with a laser inside
the transparent polycarbonate material).
After the mechanical processing—turning,
electro-erosion cutting, high-speed precision
cutting and etching—it becomes a finished product
when the edges of the medal are polished and
several finishing processes take place.
18hrs
per medal
1,300
total medals
presented
minted by
ADAMAS

9. SOCHI 2014
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE

10. Our commitment to supporting Olympic athletes has
continued. Since 2000, we’ve been proud to celebrate
athletic achievements by donating unique gold rings for
every member of Team USA.
Discover more at octanner.com/olympics