Olympic gold medals are primarily made from silver, with a thin layer of gold plating. The medals contain at least 92.5% silver, which is necessary to meet the standards set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The gold plating is typically about 6 grams deep, making the medal truly representative of gold but not entirely constructed from it. This tradition has been in place to balance material value and authenticity, celebrating the athletic achievements of the winners while being mindful of the economic implications of using pure gold.