Paris Olympics and Paralympics Medals to Be Replaced Due to Damage

The French mint responsible for producing medals for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics has received 220 requests to replace damaged awards, it confirmed on Friday.

Some athletes have complained that their medals have discoloured or chipped, with some issues arising just weeks after the Games concluded. The Monnaie de Paris, which created the medals, stated that replacements would be identical to the originals but would include a protective varnish to enhance durability.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in January that it would systematically replace “defective” medals, but the French mint prefers to refer to them as “damaged.”

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Paris Olympics and Paralympics Medals to Be Replaced Due to Damage

Several Olympians from the Paris Games shared their frustrations on social media about the condition of their medals. American skateboarder Nyjah Huston, who won a bronze in the street skateboarding event, posted a picture of his medal, which appeared to be chipped.

French swimmer Yohann Ndoye Brouard also posted a photo showing significant discolouration on both sides of his bronze medal from the Olympic 4x100m medley relay.

The 220 medals requiring replacement represent about 4% of the total 5,084 awarded during the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The medals, designed by luxury French jewellery brand Chaumet and produced by the French mint, contain pieces of iron from the original Eiffel Tower, which were preserved after renovation work in the 20th century.

The issues with the medals were initially reported by French media outlet La Lettre, which revealed that production had been rushed after new regulations forced the removal of a component in the varnish originally planned for use.

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