French swimmers outrage over damaged bronze medals from Paris 2024

In December 2024, complaints about the quality of bronze medals awarded during the Paris 2024 Olympics were publicized following the remarks of several athletes. Notably, French swimmers Clement Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard expressed dissatisfaction with their bronze medals, which were reported to be losing their luster just four months after the closing ceremonies of the Games. Their posts on social media highlighted the deterioration, with Ndoye-Brouard humorously questioning if his medal was from 2024 or 1924 due to its tarnished appearance. This sentiment echoed earlier complaints from Team USA athletes, who had already raised concerns over the state of their medals after just a short time following the competition. Olympic participants, including skateboarder Nyjah Huston and rugby player Ilona Maher, had shared similar experiences about their medals showing signs of wear and deterioration alarmingly quickly. Huston was among the first to reveal visible damage, noting issues such as tarnishing and chipping, which were further confirmed by other athletes, highlighting a broader concern regarding the quality of the awards designated for the world’s top competitors. The bronze medals awarded during the Paris Olympics included a piece of iron sourced from the Eiffel Tower, which was intended to be a significant and symbolic element of the design. However, the actual materials and construction quality came under scrutiny when athletes examined their medals in the months following the Games. Issues of medal quality posed challenges for the organizing committee and the International Olympic Committee, necessitating official responses to athlete complaints. An appeal for replacements was made for those medals perceived to be damaged, reflecting an embarrassment for Paris 2024 and raising questions about the overall standards upheld during the supervision of the Olympic Games events and productions. Further inquiries into the exact composition of the medals revealed that bronze, an alloy primarily consisting of copper, zinc, and tin, can easily oxidize when exposed to elements such as air and moisture. The degree and speed of deterioration depend on the specific alloy used, with cheaper metals known to deteriorate more quickly. Athletes and officials alike began reassessing the value of the medals that symbolize their personal achievements with concerns about their quality impeding the pride typically associated with these Olympic honors. As investigations continued, the conversation around the material integrity of the awards used for the games remained an important issue for athletes monitoring their achievements closely and a point of contention against the backdrop of historical sporting legacies that the Olympics represent.