The 2024 Paris Olympics concluded less than six months ago, yet some of the medals distributed at the prestigious event are facing an unexpectedly brief lifespan. The Monnaie de Paris, the esteemed French mint responsible for crafting the medals, has announced plans to replace a portion of the awards bestowed upon both Olympians and Paralympians due to numerous reports of deterioration and significant tarnishing.
Although the exact number of affected medals has not been publicly disclosed by the Monnaie de Paris, an investigative expose by the French news outlet La Lettre has revealed that close to 100 complaints have been lodged by athletes who have witnessed a noticeable decline in the quality of their accolades. The grievances began surfacing as early as August, just a few weeks following the conclusion of the Paris Olympics.
In response to the escalating concerns, the Monnaie de Paris has emphasized its commitment to rectifying the situation promptly. A statement released by the French mint declared, “The Monnaie de Paris has treated the issue of damaged medals with utmost seriousness ever since the initial requests for replacements emerged in August. The organization has rallied its internal teams to address the matter expeditiously. Subsequently, enhancements have been made to the varnishing process, with the aim of preventing further degradation. The Monnaie de Paris has pledged to replace all compromised medals upon request from the athletes, and anticipates completing the replacements within the first quarter of 2025.”
One of the first athletes to draw attention to the substandard condition of his medal was American Nyjah Huston, who clinched the bronze in men’s street skateboarding during the Paris Olympics. In August, Huston took to social media platform Instagram to share his dismay, posting a series of images showcasing the visible deterioration of his bronze medal after just a weekend of wear and tear. The once lustrous surface of the medal had tarnished, while signs of chipping were evident on the front facade.
“Medal looking like it went to war and back,” lamented Huston in his post. Notably, the medals distributed at the 2024 Paris Olympics were meticulously crafted by the renowned Parisian jewelry house Chaumet, each containing a minute fragment of the actual Eiffel Tower embedded within its design. In light of the prevailing concerns, the French mint has affirmed its collaboration with the 2024 Olympics Organizing Committee to assess the complaints lodged by athletes and facilitate the provision of identical replacements for the affected medals.
