While many dream of earning an Olympic medal, a surprising number of Paris 2024 athletes have reportedly handed theirs back in the wake of the Summer Games.
Photos posted during and after the Summer Games showed that some medals had lost their luster just days after being awarded, sparking widespread criticism and reports of disgruntled athletes.
Team USA skateboarder Nyjah Huston shared a picture of his bronze medal, noting its battered appearance. “Looks like it went to war and back,” he wrote, adding, “Even the front, it’s starting to chip off a little.”
During the Games, Huston said in a series of Instagram Stories: "These Olympic medals look great when they're brand new, but after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and then letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they're apparently not as high quality as you would think.
"It's looking rough. Even the front. It's starting to chip off a little."
Danish badminton player Viktor Axelsen joined the chorus of discontent, comparing his Paris 2024 gold medal with the shinier and more pristine gold he won at Tokyo 2020.
Now, French publication La Lettre reports that over 100 athletes have returned their medals.
The medals, produced by the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint), contained a unique element: a piece of the Eiffel Tower.
However, the allure of that historic feature has seemingly been overshadowed by concerns about the quality, especially after the athletes painstakingly trained their entire lives to earn the prestigious honor.
What Caused the Issue?
The deterioration has been linked to a change in the production process.
According to La Lettre, a toxic chemical — chromium trioxide — was banned, forcing manufacturers to use an alternative varnish. Unfortunately, the new coating led to "aesthetically unpleasant results".
In the wake of the debacle, three individuals reportedly left their roles at the Monnaie de Paris.
Olympic officials have stepped in, promising to replace damaged medals. This comes as athletes like French swimmers Clement Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard shared images of their awards, which appeared far from podium-worthy.
Secchi’s gold medal was described as looking like "crocodile skin", while Ndoye-Brouard’s bronze showed significant wear.
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade also voiced her disappointment, saying the medal conditions made her “sad” because they scratched easily, preventing her from wearing them together.
While the medals are labeled gold, silver, and bronze, their actual composition often surprises recipients. The Olympic gold medal, for example, is primarily silver with a gold coating, making the varnish even more crucial for its appearance.
Despite the controversy, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reassured athletes that defective medals will be replaced. Those who’ve returned their tarnished accolades can expect updated versions that hopefully live up to Olympic standards.
"The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris (the French state mint), the institution responsible for the manufacture and quality control of the medals, to assess any complaints about the medals and to understand the circumstances and cause of any damage," the IOC said in a statement.
"Defective medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris and engraved identically.
"The replacement process should begin in the coming weeks."
VT has reached out to the IOC and Paris 2024 officials for comment.
For now, the saga serves as a reminder that even the smallest details — like a medal’s shine — can cast a shadow over the world’s biggest sporting stage.
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