By Brian Friedman
The Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece - The gold, silver and bronze medals have a new look for the Athens Olympics - a redesign that's unique, Greek and even a little chic.

For the facelift, the first for the Summer Games in 76 years, organizers asked artists to submit proposals that included two distinctly Greek elements: a depiction of Nike, the goddess of victory, and the Panathinaikos, the horseshoe-shaped stadium in Athens where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.

Ever since the 1928 Amsterdam Games, Nike had been shown on the medals, seated on a chariot with a wreath in one hand and an ear of corn in the other, symbolically honoring winning athletes. Next to the goddess was usually a stadium that looked a lot like a Roman amphitheater - not surprising since the designer was an Italian, Giuseppi Cassioli.

The winning design for the Athens medals was submitted by Elena Votsi, a renowned Greek artist. Cassioli's interpretation of the myth involving Nike was "a mistake," she said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"According to the myth, she never sits," said Votsi, who has a master of arts degree in metalwork and jewelry from London's Royal College of Art.

Her design has a winged, almost angelic Nike boldly swooshing down feet-first from the heavens, delivering the laurel in the Panathinaikos stadium, the all-marble venue for archery and the finish line of the marathon. Her Nike is based on a marble statue by the sculptor Paionios of Chalkidiki from 421 B.C.

In the background of the medal is the Acropolis; above Nike's head are the Olympic rings and the Greek words, "28th Olympiad Athens 2004."