USA Salt Lake City
XIX Winter International Olympic Games

2399 athletes (886 women and 1513 men) of 77 nations competed at the Games. 18 national teams had won gold medals. China and Australia had won their first gold medals over their history of participation in the Winter Olympics. The Norwegian national team dominated the total medal count having won 13 gold, 5 silver and 78 bronze medals. 

WINNER MEDALS
The Salt Lake City Winter Olympic gold and silver winner medals are 567 g (20 ounces) heavy. At that moment these medals were the heaviest in the history of the Games. The bronze winner medal is 454 g (16 ounces) heavy. Later the heavier medals were made only in 2010 for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. For the first time in Olympic history, the medals vary for each sport of the Olympic Programme, featuring 16 unique artists’ renderings.
OBVERSE: an athlete carrying the Olympic torch is stepping out of flames representing the resilience of the Olympic spirit, with an ice mountain peak in the background. The Olympic rings anchor the image of the athlete, while the 2002 Games’ theme, “Light the Fire Within” is etched on the left of him. The inscription “Olympic Winter Games” is made on the medal over the athlete figure below the ribbon suspender. At the base of the suspender is the Roman numeral “XIX”.
REVERSE: Greek goddess Nike is holding a small victory leaf, symbolizing the olive wreaths that were presented to winners of the ancient Olympic Games.
Within Nike’s embrace is an illustration of the event for which each medal is being presented. The Salt Lake 2002 crystal emblem and name of the event are imprinted on the reverse of each medal. Each medal is hand-finished and is slightly different from the other medals.  

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE (MEDAL)
The commemorative plaque was made of the copper ally (yellow metal), 5 x 9 cm in size.
OBVERSE: thee figures of athletes are standing, with the mountain range in the background. The top inscription reads: “XIX Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake 2002”, with the Olympic rings underneath.
REVERSE: the Games’ theme “Light the Fire Inside” is superimposed on the mountain range, with the Games official logo, a stylized snowflake and inscription “Salt Lake 2002” shown over the Olympic rings, underneath.