The 2010 Winter Olympic Medals Design

More than a little thought went into the design of the 2010 Winter Olympic medals, in an attempt to merge Olympic achievement with native traditions and Canadian landscapes and oceans.

The Olympic medals are based on a master artwork of an aboriginal representation of an orca whale, created by Corrine Hunt, a Canadian designer of Komovue and Tlingit heritage. On one side of each medal's undulated surface is a different laser-etched section of the artwork, with signature elements, such as an eye or dorsal fin. So that the athletes can see where their medal fits into the master design, a silk scarf printed with the entire artwork will be presented with each Olympic medal. On the reverse side of the Olympic medals are etched the official names of the Games in French and English, the 2010 Vancouver emblems, and the name of the event and sport.

Corrine Hunt was guided by tradition as she created her artwork, stating, "The orca is a beautiful creature that is strong but also lives within a community. I felt the Olympic Games are a community, too.

The undulating design of the Olympic medals was created by Omer Arbel, a Canadian industrial designer and architect, and represents Canada's ocean waves, drifting snow and mountains. Omer Arbel's aim was to make every Olympic medal completely unique, but yet still be connected to the other medals and Hunt's artwork. "It's a beautiful idea because it means, on a conceptual level, you need all the medals together to complete the artworks," said Arbel.

Each Olympic medal was struck nine times in order to achieve the undulating form. Vancouver-based mining and metals company Teck Resources Limited supplied the raw materials, and the Olympic medals were minted at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. At 500 to 576 grams, the 2010 Winter Olympic Medals are among the heaviest medals in Olympic history.

Corrine Hunt and Omer Arbel created a similar medal design, based on a raven totem rising artwork, for the Paralympic Medals. Visit this site for a close up view of the medals.

Sources: CBC; Designboom