Paralympics: Why athletes listen to their medals on the podium

Gold medalist Mary Fisher of New Zealand listens to the sound of the medal on the podium at the medal ceremony for the Women's 100m Backstroke - S11 Final. photo / Getty

The Paralympic medals sound like solid gold hits for the visually impaired athletes.

Those watching the Games from Rio will notice that athletes such as Kiwi swimmer Mary Fisher smile as they shake the medals next to their ears.

The medals have small steel balls inside them, and make different sounds for the gold silver and bronze.

Gold makes the the loudest sound because they have 28 balls inside them. Silver has 20 and bronze 16.

Paralympics have traditionally had braille on them but this is the first time the medals can be heard.

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