When complaints about the quality of the Olympic medals for 2024 became overwhelming, the story of the Olympic medal from 2008 that survived a fire caused astonishment.

In 2021, rhythmic gymnast Daria Shkurikhina (born in 1990), who had won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, revealed that her house collapsed in a fire just because of a lit candle. Although the flames destroyed many things, her achievement at that Olympics, the gold medal, remained intact, including the ribbon.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic medals are considered to be of high quality.

The cause of the fire starting from the candle was due to Daria’s carelessness. She lit the candle and left, her pet cat knocked over the candle and fire quickly spread to the floor.

According to the New York Post, due to Covid-19 sequelae, Daria’s nose could not smell the smoke, leading to a late detection of the disaster.

Luckily, the neighbors saw it and called the fire department. However, many belongings in Daria’s house were burnt down. As for the gold medal, it is considered an interesting thing that was not harmed at all after the fire.

Top-quality Olympic medal

The Olympic Beijing 2008 medal is a combination of modern design and the traditional jade craftsmanship of China, which is recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage with a history of thousands of years.

This is the first time jade has been used as the material for the Olympic medal.

The Beijing Olympic medal has a diameter of 70mm and a thickness of 6mm.

The front of the medal is designed according to the standards of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with the inscription “XXIX OLYMPIAD BEIJING 2008” at the top.

The back is inlaid with jade according to the level of the medal, featuring the 2008 Olympic emblem at the top of the central circle, five Olympic rings below, and the inscription “Beijing 2008” in the center.

Additionally, the ribbon is made of 28% silk and 62% flame-resistant polyester. The combination of silk and modern materials has created a permanent, colorfast, and highly durable product.

Daria’s gold medal was found intact among the ruins.

Not stopping there, the rectangular medal box is made of lacquered wood using traditional Chinese techniques, with rounded edges on the lid and base, symbolizing heaven and earth.

This box conveys a message of happiness and good wishes to the world. This explains why Daria’s gold medal remained unscathed after the fire. Despite losing her home, the athlete still possesses a valuable gold medal, marking a bright moment in her youth.