Paris Olympics Medals Are Considered “Defective” and Must Be Replaced, According to IOC

The International Olympic Committee has disclosed its intention to substitute the Paris 2024 medals that were deemed defective due to quality concerns.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Monday that the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will replace defective medals with identical models.

An athlete who is dissatisfied with their condition has returned more than 100 medals, according to La Lettre, a French media outlet. Images of their deteriorating accolades were shared by numerous Olympians on social media platforms to draw attention to the issue.

On July 29, Nyjah Huston, an American skateboarder who secured the bronze medal in the street skateboarding competition, conveyed his disappointment.

Huston wrote in an online post, “These Olympic medals look great when they are brand new, but they are apparently not as high quality as you would think after letting them sit on my skin with some sweat and letting my friends wear them.” Further, he added, “It’s looking rough.”

“Even the front is beginning to chip off some.”

La Lettre attributed the problem to a change in varnish regulations that necessitated a last-minute replacement of a critical component. The durability of the medal may have been impacted by this modification.

The luxury jewelry and watch brand Chaumet, which is a member of the LVMH conglomerate, designed the 5,084 gold, silver, and bronze medals for Paris 2024. Monnaie de Paris was responsible for their production. From the inventory of the monument’s operating corporation, each medal contains a small portion of the Eiffel Tower.

The International Olympic Committee’s decision to replace the defective medals guarantees that the awards received by the athletes in question will meet the anticipated level of excellence for the Games.