The Wenlock Olympics: An inspirational medal
The Wenlock Olympics inspired the modern #Olympics – and archivist Chris Cannon explains how a medal presented at Wenlock inspired the medal awarded in modern #pentathlon
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00:00Now, this is a very special medal that was presented here.
00:05It was made by Queen Victoria's Jewellers
00:08and it is very special in the Olympic world
00:11because on it it has an image of Nike,
00:15the Greek goddess of victory.
00:17And every Olympic medal that is awarded on one side
00:21has an image of Nikon.
00:23So the Paris Olympics on one side will have an image of Nike
00:27and that idea came from here.
00:29You have, in small writing there, it's in Greek
00:34and it's Pindar's Olympic ode
00:36to say there are rewards for glorious deeds.
00:39You've got skill and strength in Latin
00:42but the best thing is at the top here you have a hand
00:46and the hand is holding a laurel crown
00:48as presented in the ancient Greek Olympic times.
00:52Wow.