Reasonable price for an Olympic medal (G/S/B not participation)

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

you could also get one for free...all you have to do is qualify for the olympics and come in at least third in an event

some girl won a sharpshooting contest at 100m today..19 years old and won the gold for the U.S....but all you would have to do is come in third..

that looks easier than going the basketball route ie. going to NBA, being good enough and go on U.S. Men's Team and winning the gold at the olympics...or perhaps playing for a country you think will come in 3rd and changing citizenship to that team as it will be easier to make than the U.S. Team

and all that saves you the 10k etc..

Never participated in a competitive sport have you Jake? Trust me the $10k would be much easier.

Also it really depressed me when they let paid professionals compete in the Olympics.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Never participated in a competitive sport have you Jake? Trust me the $10k would be much easier.

Also it really depressed me when they let paid professionals compete in the Olympics.

Been going on for 100 years probably with other countries like Russia.

E-Sports may be an olympic event someday, than we can talk..

but no events are created equal, people that run the 100m could qualify as a runner for bobsled but no drivers of the bobsled can ever compete in the 100m.

also curling 'athletes' arent in the same league as athletes in the triathelon etc..

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Also it really depressed me when they let paid professionals compete in the Olympics.

There have been professionals in the Olympics since the 1896 Games. When they decided to include fencing in the Olympic program it was determined that they should allow fencing masters who made their living by teaching. By doing this they could attract the best fencers of the era. This was done in 1896 in Athens and 1900 in Paris. The first Greek to win an Olympic championship in the modern games was a fencing master, Leonidas Pyrgos.

Up until 1948 you needed to be a military officer to compete in equestrian events, thus a professional rider.

Many of the early competitors in shooting were also military. The whole 1912 U.S. rifle team were in the military - Navy, Army, Iowa National Guard and West Virginia National Guard. It was not limited to officers though. One member of this team as a hospital steward in the Navy. The U.S. Army still has a sharpshooting team in Ft. Benning, GA that produces Olympic shooters

[steve B]

The US Olympic cycling team in 68 was also at least partly military.

Funny story from John Howard one of the team members. He was picked for the team, and like all new recruits had to go to basic training. When he'd take heat for not working hard enough at some stuff he'd tell the officer that he was on the cycling team, which they apparently found more than a bit funny and constantly gave him static about how he'd do in Vietnam.

Right up until he graduated and got his orders- "Report to the US army/ Olympic cycling team training facility"


Now if you like medals, there's a lot out there that's not Olympic but is very cool. Picked up a bunch from Uruguay from a cyclist who rode in the 1920's. Including a national championship medal plus some other stuff.
They hadn't caught on down there, although the soccer stuff had some decent asking prices. The whole batch of cycling stuff was maybe $50. It did frame up pretty nicely.

Steve B

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Michael B

There have been professionals in the Olympics since the 1896 Games. When they decided to include fencing in the Olympic program it was determined that they should allow fencing masters who made their living by teaching. By doing this they could attract the best fencers of the era. This was done in 1896 in Athens and 1900 in Paris. The first Greek to win an Olympic championship in the modern games was a fencing master, Leonidas Pyrgos.

Up until 1948 you needed to be a military officer to compete in equestrian events, thus a professional rider.

Many of the early competitors in shooting were also military. The whole 1912 U.S. rifle team were in the military - Navy, Army, Iowa National Guard and West Virginia National Guard. It was not limited to officers though. One member of this team as a hospital steward in the Navy. The U.S. Army still has a sharpshooting team in Ft. Benning, GA that produces Olympic shooters

I was referring more to basketball and hockey. From personal experience all military personnel was also considered amateur athletes till at least the late 1980's. Not sure if it has changed since then.

EDIT: Very cool display Steve. Somewhere I have a Junior Olympic Gold medal I won back in the 80's for boxing. Back then the Junior Olympics was used to pick people to train for the Olympics. Sadly I never made it to Colorado Springs. I was one of those guys that could beat 99.99% of the people but the very top guys always beat me.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I was referring more to basketball and hockey. From personal experience all military personnel was also considered amateur athletes till at least the late 1980's. Not sure if it has changed since then..

I knew that you were mainly focusing on those sports, but wanted to point out how the IOC has finessed the rules. I would rather see U.S. college players in basketball and hockey and not win a medal than the glory hound NBA and NHL players. Christian Laettner is the last true amateur basketball player for the U.S.

[smotan_02]

The military still has a strong showing at each of the Olympic games. Im biased to the Army, but the lesser services provide some competitors as well.

Here is your 2016 Army Olympians.
http://www.armymwr.com/olympians/soldiers.aspx


Dont forget about your wounded warrior competitors as well:

http://www.armymwr.com/olympians/paralympians.aspx

Added this for good measure, this video about the our wounded warrior athletes is well worth your 10 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM13pvi4JN4

**Be advised- stealthy ninjas cutting onions while you watch.

Originally Posted by Michael B

There have been professionals in the Olympics since the 1896 Games. When they decided to include fencing in the Olympic program it was determined that they should allow fencing masters who made their living by teaching. By doing this they could attract the best fencers of the era. This was done in 1896 in Athens and 1900 in Paris. The first Greek to win an Olympic championship in the modern games was a fencing master, Leonidas Pyrgos.

Up until 1948 you needed to be a military officer to compete in equestrian events, thus a professional rider.

Many of the early competitors in shooting were also military. The whole 1912 U.S. rifle team were in the military - Navy, Army, Iowa National Guard and West Virginia National Guard. It was not limited to officers though. One member of this team as a hospital steward in the Navy. The U.S. Army still has a sharpshooting team in Ft. Benning, GA that produces Olympic shooters

[ooo-ribay]

Back to the original topic, I would have to think the sport and the winning athlete (household name?) would make a HUGE difference in value even if the medals are all the same. e.g Michael Phelps swimming Gold would seem to me way more valuable than a ping pong Gold.