Summer McIntosh has her Olympic medals on display. Triple gold and silver medalist in Paris and just back from the World Championships in Budapest, swimmer Summer McIntosh greets young swimmers at the Etobicoke Swim Club at the Etobicoke Olympium in Toronto. December 19, 2024.Photo:Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty
Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty
Less than six months after the 2024 Paris Olympics, manyathletes’ medalshave already lost their luster.
More than 100 Olympic and Paralympic athletes have reached out to the Monnaie de Paris to request a replacement medal as many have begun to “deteriorate” in recent months, according to a new investigative report from the French websiteLa Lettre.
The French mint confirmed that the “replacement of damaged medals has been initiated” in some cases and that “all damaged medals will be replaced and identically engraved at the request of athletes during the 1st quarter of 2025.”
La Lettre’s investigative report about the “defective” medals on Monday said the medal controversy has led the French mint to fire three people on its production and quality staff. The Monnaie de Paris denied this Tuesday, saying it’s “false” that three employees were fired over the medal fiasco.
Nyjah Huston and his bronze 2024 Olympic medal.Joe Scarnici/Getty; Nyjah Huston/Instagram
Joe Scarnici/Getty; Nyjah Huston/Instagram
Several athletes have complained on social media since the closing ceremony in August, sharing photos of their medals that appear to show them flaking and cracking in several places.
U.S. skateboarder Nyjah Hustonfirst spoke out about the medal qualityin mid-August when he shared images on social media and said it looked like his medal “went to war.”
“Alright, so these Olympic medals look great when they are brand new,” Huston shared in an August clip on hisInstagram Stories. “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 are apparently not as high quality as you would think.”
The American skateboarder added: “I mean look at that thing, it’s looking rough. Even the front is starting to chip off a little.”
As recently as two weeks ago, French swimmers Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Clément Secchi , who won the 4x100m medley, complained on social media about their medals deteriorating. Secchi shared an image of his medal on Instagram, comparing it to flaky crocodile skin. Brouard responded with a joke about Secchi’s medal quality, writing, “and yet she is in good shape…”
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source: people.com
