The two sides of the Olympic gold medal , the prize athletes from all over the world will be competing for . It was first designed by Professor Casiollia of Florence , Italy , for the 1928 Games in Amsterdam . The XIX Olympiad in Mexico will be the ninth to maintain the traditional design , with only one change , the lettering style corresponds to the Mexico 1968 logo . Attached to the medal is a plaque identifying the sport in which the medal was won ( in this case sailing ) . 22nd September 1968