The 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, were significant as the last Games where gold medals were made of solid gold. Held from July 6 to 22, the event featured 2,408 athletes from 28 nations competing in 102 events. This Olympics introduced art competitions, women’s diving and swimming, and electric timing in athletics. It also marked Japan’s debut as the first Asian nation to participate.
The United States won the most gold medals, while Sweden led in overall medals. These were the final Olympics before World War I, with the next Games taking place in 1920. The solid gold medals of 1912 remain a unique symbol of that era, a stark contrast to the medals of today.