The front of the gold, silver and bronze medals, unveiled yesterday exactly a year before the Games open, always depicts the same imagery - the Greek goddess of sport, Nike, stepping out of the Parthenon.

On the other side the 2012 London Olympics logo forms the centrepiece of the medals, unveiled in Trafalgar Square yesterday.

The medals are thought to be the biggest in the history of the Summer Olympics, weighing between 375g and 400g. Metalwork designer David Watkins said he was ‘absolutely delighted’ with how they had turned out.

‘It is exciting to think that the finest athletes in the world will be wearing my medal design next summer,’ said the Wolverhampton-born craftsman, Metro News reported.