The Paris 2024 Olympic Games were meant to be a celebration of athletic excellence, unity, and global pride. But just five months after the closing ceremonies, the event has been marred by an unexpected controversy: more than 100 disgruntled athletes have returned their medals, citing damage and rust.
The medals, produced by the prestigious Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris), were supposed to be timeless symbols of achievement. Instead, they’ve become a source of frustration for athletes who worked tirelessly to earn them. According to reports from *La Lettre*, the issue stems from the use of substandard varnish, which has caused the medals to deteriorate rapidly.
A Glittering Prize Gone Wrong
The problem first came to light when American skateboarder Nyjah Houston and French swimmer Maxime Grusset, both bronze medalists at the Games, shared images of their damaged medals on social media. Houston, who won his medal in skateboarding, posted a photo of his prize just 10 days after the competition. The medal was already chipping and peeling, with visible signs of wear.
“Alright, so these Olympic medals look great when they’re brand new,” Houston wrote, “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.” He added, “I mean, look at that thing. It’s looking rough. Even the front. It’s starting to chip off a little. So yeah, I don’t know, Olympic medals, you maybe gotta step up the quality a little bit.”
French Olympians Clément Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, who won bronze in the 4×100-metre medley relay, also took to social media to showcase their deteriorating medals. The images sparked outrage among athletes and fans alike, raising questions about the quality control processes at the Paris Mint.
Behind the Scenes: A Breakdown in Quality
The Paris Mint, a centuries-old institution known for its craftsmanship, has come under fire for the mishap. In response to the controversy, the organization reportedly dismissed three senior officials: the industrial director, production director, and head of quality, health, safety, and environment.
The root of the problem appears to be the varnish used to protect the medals. Instead of preserving their luster, the substandard coating has led to rapid deterioration, leaving athletes with medals that look more like relics than cherished mementos.
A Symbolic Letdown
For athletes, an Olympic medal is more than just a piece of metal—it’s a lifelong symbol of dedication, sacrifice, and triumph. To see that symbol tarnished so quickly has been deeply disappointing.
“It’s not just about the medal itself,” one athlete anonymously told reporters. “It’s about what it represents. When you stand on that podium, you feel like you’ve achieved something immortal. But when the medal starts falling apart a few weeks later, it feels like that moment is being taken away from you.”
What’s Next?
The Paris Mint has yet to release an official statement addressing the issue, but the dismissals of key personnel suggest that internal investigations are underway. Meanwhile, athletes are calling for replacements or repairs to their medals, hoping to restore the integrity of their hard-earned prizes.
The incident has also sparked a broader conversation about the quality of Olympic medals. While the design and materials of the medals are often celebrated, this controversy highlights the importance of durability and craftsmanship. After all, these medals are meant to last a lifetime—not just a few weeks.
The medals were designed by French luxury jeweller Chaumet and are set with a piece of iron taken from the Eiffel Tower during renovation in the 20th Century.
Paris 2024 medals contain a sliver of the Eiffel Tower as a nod to the host city but the exact make up of medals vary between Olympics.
Gold medals are mostly made of silver with a gold coating. Bronze medals are usually a mix of copper, zinc and tin.
Bronze naturally oxidizes when exposed to air and moisture. How quickly bronze degrades depends on the proportion of metals in the alloy, although cheaper metals often quicken the process.
A Lesson Learned
The Paris 2024 Games will undoubtedly be remembered for their breathtaking moments and record-breaking performances. But they’ll also be remembered for this unexpected hiccup—a reminder that even the smallest details matter when it comes to honoring the world’s greatest athletes.
As the Olympic movement looks ahead to future Games, one thing is clear: the medals must be as enduring as the achievements they represent.
The International Olympic Committee told Mail Sport: ‘The Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris, the institution tasked with the production and quality control of the medals, in order to appraise any issues with medals to understand the circumstances and cause of any damage.
‘Damaged medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris and engraved in an identical way to the originals.
The process to provide any replacements should start in the coming weeks in a process managed by Paris 2024 and Monnaie de Paris, together with the National Olympic Committees of the athletes concerned. Paris 2024 is in contact with the relevant National Olympic Committees.
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