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Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent
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International

Olympians say medals from Paris 2024 games deteriorating

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent
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Several athletes who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics reported their medals deteriorating just months after the games ended. The French government minted more than 5,000 medals for the 2024 Olympics, including those awarded at the Paralympics.

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However, several Olympians have raised concerns about their medals, reporting that they have become chipped, faded and tarnished.

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Some athletes had already questioned the quality of the medals before the closing ceremony.

American skateboarder Nyjah Huston shared a photo of his damaged bronze medal on social media. He remarked it looked as though it had “gone to war and back.”

According to French news outlet La Lettre, more than 100 athletes have requested replacements for their damaged awards.

The French Mint, which produced the medals, said it has taken the issue seriously since the first complaints were made in August and has activated its internal teams to investigate the matter.

A spokesperson for the French Mint stated that while they have not disclosed the exact number of damaged medals, they are collaborating with the 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee to address the problem.

The medals drew attention last year because each contains iron from the Eiffel Tower, giving them a distinctive connection to the host city.

Officials in France have confirmed that replacements for the damaged medals will begin to be sent out in the coming weeks. Identical versions will be provided to the affected athletes.

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[Kennedy Felton]

THE WINNING ATHLETES AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS SAY THEIR MEDALS ARE LITERALLY LOSING THEIR LUSTER JUST MONTHS LATER.

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT PUMPED OUT MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND MEDALS FOR THE 2024 GAMES, INCLUDING THE PARALYMPICS. 

NOW OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO REPLACE AN UNDISCLOSED NUMBER OF MEDALLIONS. OLYMPIANS ARE REPORTING THEY’RE CHIPPED, FADED AND TARNISHED. 

SEVERAL OLYMPIANS QUESTIONED THE MEDALS’ QUALITY BEFORE THE CLOSING CEREMONY.  

AMERICAN SKATEBOARDER NYJAH HUSTON [NAI-JUH HOUSTON]  TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHOW OFF HIS DAMAGED BRONZE MEDAL, SAYING IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD “GONE TO WAR AND BACK.”

FRENCH NEWS OUTLET LA LETTRE REPORTS MORE THAN 100 ATHLETES ARE REQUESTING REPLACEMENTS.

THE FRENCH MINT SAYS IT TAKES “the issue of damaged medals very seriously since the first exchange requests in August, and has mobilized its internal teams.” 

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MINT SAYS THEY AREN’T GIVING A FIGURE TO THE NUMBER OF DAMAGED MEDALS BUT CONFIRMED THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE OLYMPIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE. 

THE PARIS MEDALS MADE HEADLINES LAST YEAR BECAUSE EACH OF THEM CONTAINS A BIT OF IRON DIRECTLY FROM THE EIFFEL TOWER. 

FRANCE SAYS THEY WILL START REPLACING THE DAMAGED MEDALS IN THE COMING WEEKS WITH IDENTICAL VERSIONS.