<Tr> <Th> First award </Th> <Td> 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.olympic.org </Td> </Tr> <P> An Olympic medal is awarded to successful competitors at one of the Olympic Games . There are three classes of medal: gold, awarded to the winner; silver, awarded to the 1st runner - up; and bronze, awarded to the second runner - up . The granting of awards is laid out in detail in the Olympic protocols . </P> <P> Medal designs have varied considerably since the first Olympic Games in 1896, particularly in size and weight . A standard obverse (front) design of the medals for the Summer Olympic Games began in 1928 and remained for many years, until its replacement at the 2004 Games as the result of controversy surrounding the use of the Roman Colosseum rather than a building representing the Games' Greek roots . The medals of the Winter Olympic Games never had a common design, but regularly feature snowflakes and the event where the medal has been won . </P>

What are the three types of olympic medals