Olympic medal began in 1896 medals started to be given to successful olympian competitors. However, gold medals were not awarded at the inaugural Olympics in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The winners were instead given a silver medal and an olive branch, while runners-up received a laurel branch and a copper or bronze medal. In 1900, most winners received cups or trophies instead of medals. The custom of the sequence of gold, silver, and bronze for the first three places dates from the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has retroactively assigned gold,
Gymnastics at the 1896 Summer Olympics Gymnastics at the 1896 Summer Olympics At the 1896 Summer Olympics, eight gymnastics events, all for men, were contested in Panathinaiko Stadium. They were organized and prepared by the Sub-Committee for Wrestling and Gymnastics. Events took place on April 9, April 10, and April 11 1896. There were 71 competitors from 9 nations (including 52 from Greece) that took part in gymnastics. These medals are retroactively assigned by the International Olympic Committee; at the time, winners were given a silver medal and subsequent places received no award. A total of 71 gymnasts from 9 nations competed at the Athens Games: