Why Olympians Bite Their Medals

You’ve probably seen the pictures of winners at Olympic medal ceremonies biting their gold medals. In this video, Simon Whistler of Today I Found Out explains why they do it. Yes, they only do it because the photographer tells them to, but why does the photographer tell them to?

If you are of a certain age, this will make you feel ancient. Many of the Olympic gold medal winners don’t themselves know why they are supposed to bite their medals. But if you’ve watched enough silent films, Warner Bros. cartoons, and Laurel and Hardy movies, you’re familiar with this old trope left over from the days when some coins were actually made of gold. (via Laughing Squid)