There is only one thing that says you are the best in the world at your sport, and it is coveted by basketball players, hockey players, swimmers, sprinters, and curlers alike: the Gold Medal. A gold medal was not awarded to Olympic champions until 1904, but now the custom of gold-silver-bronze awards is copied by a myriad of other events.

The medal is named for the color, not the metal used, as some gold medals have contained as little as 6 grams of gold. But no matter the true dollar value of these medals, they are priceless to every athlete who has ever dreamed of competing in the Olympics.

Top 10 Iconic Trophies

More from RealClearSports:

Learn some hockey history with one of our most iconic trophies, the Top 10 Stanley Cup Stories

Nearly just as iconic are some of the celebrites in our look at the Top 10 Famous Fans