However, a number of winners are expressing concerns about the quality of the medals they’ve received, citing noticeable deterioration shortly after the event.
Images shared by athletes highlight the significant wear and tear that their medals have undergone in just a few months.
Bronze medalists from the French swimming team have particularly noted the issues with their medals’ durability.
Clement Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, who were part of the team that secured bronze in the 4×100-metre medley relay, shared their observations.
“Crocodile skin,” commented Secchi, while Ndoye-Brouard quipped that the medal looked antiquated.
“Paris 1924,” wrote Ndoye-Brouard.
A commenter remarked: “It looks like it was dipped in the Seine.”
Another added: “Those from Paris 1924 are in better condition.”
Some critiques extended beyond the medals, questioning the overall success of the event: “I’m afraid the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris were a total failure, and the question of medals was probably one of its least problems …”
“France doesn’t even know how to print coins anymore…” criticized one viewer.
Despite this, not everyone blamed the organizers for the condition of the medals.
“Why are you holding and wearing it? Get it cleaned professionally and then put it in an air tight case. It’s just natural patina,” one user suggested.
Several commenters pointed out that the issue could be due to the natural properties of the bronze material used for the medals.
“Total nonsense. That’s patina what is shown. It’s the natural process of oxidation and corrosion of bronze due to lack of maintenance and cleaning of the metal. Color transformation and texture changes due to patina is seen on the medals. Stop complaining!”
The French swimmers are not alone in their complaints; other athletes have also expressed dissatisfaction with the medal quality.
Athletes from Team USA have also shared their concerns.
Team USA Olympic skateboarder Nyjah Huston noted: “Alright, so these Olympic medals look great when they are brand new.
“But after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and then letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they are apparently not as high quality as you would think.
“I mean look at that thing, it’s looking rough. Even the front is starting to chip off a little. So I don’t know … Olympic medals, you gotta maybe step up the quality a little bit.”
British diver Yasmin Harper also commented on the tarnishing of her bronze medal.
“There’s been some small bits of tarnishing. I think it’s water or anything that gets under metal, it’s making it go a little bit discolored, but I’m not sure,” she mentioned in August.
Each Olympic medal contains a piece of original iron from the Eiffel Tower.
Organizers informed the Daily Mail: “Paris 2024 is aware of a social media report from an athlete whose medal is showing damage a few days after it was awarded.
“Paris 2024 is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris, the institution tasked with the production and quality control of the medals, and together with the National Olympic Committee of the athlete concerned, in order to appraise the medal to understand the circumstances and cause of the damage,” the spokesperson continued.