Olympic champions are true heroes

For all disciplines, all sports represented on the Olympic Games, all winners both in individual and team sports, medals are given for: the first place "gold medals". (they are now made of gilded silver), the runners-up receive silver medals, and the third-place athletes bronze medals. practice of awarding medals to the top three competitors was introduced in 1908 in London. At the 1896 Olympics only the first two received a medal, silver and bronze, while various prizes were awarded in 1900. However, the 1904 Olympics also awarded silver trophies for first place, which makes Athens 1906 the first games that awarded the three medals only.

Because the Olympics are held only once every four years, the public and athletes often consider them as more important and valuable than world championships and other international tournaments, which are often held annually. Many athletes have become celebrities or heroes in their own country, or even world-wide, after becoming Olympic champions as it was thousands of years ago, yet in present times, Olympic victory brings along financial satisfaction, as well. This is the reason why some athletes aim to become Olympic winners at any cost, risking their health, sometimes their own life and lives their future descendants, by using doping.

Some, most successful athletes have been included, not only in the sports history, but in general history of the mankind. For sure, Paavo Nurmi, Jessy Owens, Emil Zatopek, Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis and others will be introduced in encyclopedias «shoulder to shoulder» with Ceasar, Carl the Great, Leonardo, Napoleon and other great men from the history. Importnace of the victory on the Olympic Games is great, so above mentioned motto: It is important to participate, not to win, unfortunately fades away. Maybe we can go further in saying that Olympic victory is maybe greatest achievement and honour some men can reach. It is not the same to become Olympic winner in 400 m hurdles in athletics, and 200 m back swimming, or in gymnastics; and become Olympic winner in badmintone or beach volleyball. Nevertheless, besides professional sight on those values, strenght of media of individual sport has great significance, which also fluctuates from one part of the world to another.