Medal

A medal is a small metal object that is given as an award for doing something important or to commemorate something. There are medals for sports, military, academics, etc. Some medals have religious meaning. The Miraculous Medal has been distributed worldwide, for example. The Nobel Prize is a gold medal given to a few people every year. 

Military decorations, service awards, and medals are often confused with one another. Decoration is the term for awards which require acts of heroism or achievement (such as the British Victoria Cross or American Silver Star). A service award or campaign medal is awarded for serving in a place and time (such as the Iraq Campaign Medal). In either case, an award or decoration may be presented as a medal.

Olympics
In the Olympic Games and many other sports competitions, medals are give to the top three people who took part in the competition. The winner of the competition is given the gold medal. The silver medal is given to the person who came second. The third placed person is given the bronze medal.

Religious Medals

Medals are often worn for their religious significance. Such devotional medals include the Miraculous Medal associated with Marian groups and the Saint Benedict Medal.

Other websites
Atlantic Provinces Numismatic Association
Official Medals of the Numismatic Associations and Clubs of the Atlantic Provinces 
Exonumia defined
Orders, Decorations and Medals  
Nobel prize
Most Comprehensive and Updated Listing of Orders, Decorations and Medals
Weiss Collection