Designer unveils sought-after medals for Paralympic Games

Spirit in motion and the heart of victory are the ideas behind the designs for the gold, silver and bronze medals created by Hampshire-born jewellery designer Lin Cheung.

Just like the same-size London 2012 Olympic medals, which are 85mm (3.3in) in diameter, 7mm (0.3in) thick and weigh in at 375g-400g (13oz-14oz), these are probably among the biggest and heaviest of any summer Paralympic medals.

Medals won in Beijing 2008 weighed 200g (7oz) and those at Barcelona 1992 231g (8oz) – the heaviest medals to be awarded to date.

International Paralympic Committee president Sir Philip Craven said: “For those lucky enough to win one of these stunning medals it will remain a treasured possession for the rest of their lives.

“It will make all the years of training and dedication to be both physically and mentally ready for London 2012 more than just worthwhile.”

Around 4,200 athletes will compete in 20 Paralympic sports for the prized 2012 medals.

Approximately 2,300 Paralympic medals will be presented in 502 Paralympic victory ceremonies in 19 venues.

The athletes and the public got their first glimpse of the medals yesterday as they were unveiled as part of an exhibition – Mine To Medals: The London 2012 Olympic And Paralympic Games Medals – at London’s British Museum, which runs until the last day of the Paralympics on September 9 2012.

A close-up of an outstretched wing of the Greek Goddess of Victory appears on one side. It is meant to make you think of forward flight, power and lightness. This image represents spirit in motion, one of the powerful mes.sages behind the Paralympics. The reverse is heavily symbolic and carries an image reflecting the area close to the heart of the Greek Goddess of Victory.

The image, chosen to suggest inclusion and togetherness at an historical event, was overlaid on textures moulded directly from the plaster cast of The Nike of Paionios in the British Museum.

Ms Cheung, a senior lecturer in jewellery design at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, London, said it is “very exciting” to think that champions will have her medal designs hung around their necks at London 2012.