Paris 2024 Olympic Bronze Medals Tarnish, Athletes Demand Replacements

Bronze medal winners report rapid deterioration of their awards, prompting criticism of quality and delayed replacement efforts.

Several athletes, including French swimmers Clement Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, have shared images of their tarnished Paris 2024 bronze medals, describing them as resembling 'crocodile skin' or medals from 'Paris 1924.'
Complaints about the medals' quality first emerged during the Games, with American skateboarder Nyjah Huston and British diver Yasmin Harper among those reporting chipping, discoloration, and other damage shortly after receiving their awards.
The medals, designed by French jeweler Chaumet and minted by the Monnaie de Paris, contain recycled materials and a piece of the Eiffel Tower but have been criticized for their susceptibility to oxidation and environmental exposure.
The Monnaie de Paris has promised to replace damaged medals by early 2025, but some athletes, including Secchi, report delays in receiving updates after submitting replacement requests months ago.
This controversy follows a history of similar issues with Olympic medals, including incidents at the Tokyo 2021 and Rio 2016 Games, where athletes also reported problems with medal durability.