Over 100 Athletes at Paris Olympics Return Medals After the Games

More than 100 Paris Olympics Athletes Return Medals

Source: LADbible

Overview of the Incident

• Over 100 athletes from the Paris 2024 Olympics have returned their medals due to rapid deterioration.
• Reports indicate that medals produced by the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) began to show significant wear within days of the competition.

Athlete Reactions

• Nyjah Huston, a Team USA skateboarder, expressed dismay about his bronze medal's condition, which appeared weathered and chipped.
• Comparison between medals from Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 revealed that many athletes felt the newer medals lacked quality.

Manufacturing Issues and Response

• The issue arose after a change in the varnish process following a ban on the toxic chemical chromium trioxide.
• The Monnaie de Paris stated that they are reviewing the circumstances and causes behind the damage.
• They will replace all damaged medals, with replacements expected in the first quarter of 2025.

Additional Considerations

• Initial reports claim three executives have left the Monnaie de Paris amid the scandal, but these claims are contested.
• The situation has raised concerns among athletes regarding the medal's durability and overall quality standards.