16th August 1928: Canadian sprinter, Percy Williams (1908 - 1982) who won gold medals at 100 and 200 metres, being held aloft by his compatriots, after his victories at the Amsterdam Olympics. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

Lord David George Brownlow Cecil (1905 -1981), 6th Marquess of Exeter (centre) on his way to winning the Men's 400-Metre Hurdles and equalling the Olympic record of 53.4 seconds, at the Amsterdam games, 1928. For the race, Lord Burghley's mother had provided him with silk shorts to prevent chafing of the legs. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

First place winners were awarded a silver medal, an olive branch and a diploma. Those in second place were given a bronze/cooper* medal, a branch of laurel and a diploma. The obverse side of the Athens medal has Zeus' face along with his hand holding a globe with the winged victory on it, with the inscription “ΟΛΥΜΓΙΑ". The reverse side had the Acropolis site with the inscription “ΔΙΕΘΝΕΙΣ · ΟΛΥΜΓΙΑΚΟΙ · ΑΓΩΝΕΣ ΕΝ · ΑΘΗΝΑΙΣ · 1896."

2 SEP 1960: DICK MCTAGGART OF GREAT BRITAIN PUTS IN A VERY POLISHED DISPLAY TO BEAT HARD HITTING BLAY OF GHANA IN THEIR FEATHER-WEIGHT COMPETTION AT THE ROME OLYMPICS. Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive

Romanian athlete Iolanda Balas wins the gold medal in the final of the ladies high jump at the Rome Olympics, 9th September 1960. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Ethiopian runner Bikila Abebe with his gold medal after winning the marathon at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, 12th September 1960. Abdeslon Rhadi of Morocco, left, won silver and Barry Magee of New Zealand won the bronze. Abebe, one of Haile Selassie's personal bodyguards, ran the race barefoot and set an Olympic record with his victory. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Robert Johansson of Norway makes a jump during the Ski Jumping - Men's Large Hill on Day 8 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Ski Jumping Center on February 17, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, Republic of Korea.

Gold medalist, Kamil Stoch of Poland celebrates following the Ski Jumping - Men's Large Hill on day eight of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Ski Jumping Center on February 17, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, Republic of Korea.

Robert Johansson of Norway makes a jump during the Ski Jumping - Men's Large Hill on Day 8 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Ski Jumping Center on February 17, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, Republic of Korea.

Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland wins the silver medal during the Freestyle Skiing Ladies' Ski Slopestyle on Day 8 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Pheonix Snow Park on February 17, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, Republic of Korea.