In around 1800-1900, winners' medals were in fact silver. Sorry, I don't know if it's still the same now. found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_medal
First place = a gold medal Second place = a silver medal Third place = a bronze medal
The prizes in the Modern Olympics are medals. For third place, you get a medal made out of bronze, for second place you get one made out of silver, and for first place you get the "gold medal" which is actually made out of silver with thin gold plating.
A silver medal conventionally, is for second place. So it is a medal
Usually, its a gold medal for first place, silver medal for second place, and a bronze medal for third place.
The sprinter who came second received the gold medal due to a disqualification of the first-place finisher for a violation of rules, such as a false start or doping. This decision was made after a review of the race results by officials. As a result, the second-place sprinter was elevated to first place, earning the gold medal. This situation highlights the importance of adhering to competition regulations.
The silver medal goes to the second place finisher. Unless there has been a tie for second place, in which case there is no silver medal awarded, only two bronze (third place) medals, one each, to the tied contestants.
Silver
A sliver medal.
gold
The winner of an event gets a gold medal, the second place finisher gets a silver medal, and the third place finisher gets a bronze medal.
Silver
gold, first place