The recent surge in gold and silver prices to record highs will make the medals awarded at the 2026 Winter Olympics the most expensive in history.
The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially begin on Friday and the value of the gold and silver medals that will be awarded to the winners and runners-up, respectively, have risen with the price of the precious metals.
The spot price of gold has risen over 70% in the last year, trading around $4,950 per ounce on Friday. In that timeframe, silver prices have surged 143% and the metal is trading around $76 per ounce as of Friday.
While Olympic medals have a clear sentimental value to the athletes who have typically spent years training to win them, that price surge increases the underlying value of the medals.