Other forms: medalists
If you win a commemorative metal disk in a sports competition, you can call yourself a medalist. Win first place in an Olympic event and you'll be a gold medalist!
Back in the 1750s, a medalist was a person who made medals from metal — a particular kind of metalsmith. By the end of the 18th century, the word was also used for someone who received or won a medal, and that's since become the more common definition. If you want to be a medalist, you'll need to practice your skills at the high jump, start a heroic military career, or become a champion speller.