2010 Vancouver Olympic Medals

Unlike the summer Olympics the medals at the winter Olympics are different each games and designed by the host country. The medals for this winter games are the most unique yet -- I'm not just saying it because I am a proud Canuck.

In an Olympic first, each medal will be unique, featuring part of an image hand cropped from a master artwork by Corrine Hunt, a Canadian designer and artist of Komoyue and Tlingit heritage based in Vancouver, B.C. A silk scarf with the entire design will be presented to the medallist, enabling them to see how their medal connects with those awarded to other athletes at the Games.

Also for the first time, the medals are not flat. Instead, they have an undulating surface intended to represent the West Coast landscape of mountains and waves and drifting snow. Canadian industrial designer and architect Omer Arbel, also of Vancouver, created the innovative undulating design of the medals, which were struck nine times each to achieve the distinctive look as part of a 30-step medal fabrication process.

At 500 to 576 grams each, the medals are amongst the heaviest in Olympic and Paralympic history. The production of the medals is green as well, as the base metal alloy was made from scrap circuit boards, diverting 6.8 metric tonnes from landfill.

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