• Over 100 Olympic athletes reported flaking and cracking of their 2024 Paris medals, requesting replacements.
• Athletes like Nyjah Huston and Yohann Ndoye Brouard shared photos, raising concerns about quality control.
• The Monnaie de Paris is investigating and replacing medals, aiming to fulfill requests by early 2025.

More than 100 Olympic and Paralympic athletes have reported issues with their medals just months after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Complaints of flaking, cracking, and deterioration prompted many athletes to request replacements from the Monnaie de Paris, the French mint responsible for producing over 5,000 medals for the Games. While the mint has already begun replacing some damaged medals, the situation has sparked significant controversy, with athletes expressing concerns online and reports suggesting deeper production issues.

Athletes Speak Out About Medal Quality

The dissatisfaction became public shortly after the Games ended, with U.S. skateboarder Nyjah Huston among the first to highlight the problem. Huston shared photos of his bronze medal on social media in August, describing how it began chipping after minimal wear. “It looks like this medal went to war,” Huston remarked, noting that sweat and handling significantly worsened its condition.

Similarly, French swimmers Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Clément Secchi, who secured gold in the 4x100m medley, shared images of their deteriorating medals. Secchi likened the damage to “flaky crocodile skin,” while Brouard responded with humor, joking that Secchi’s medal was still “in good shape” despite the visible wear.

French Mint Responds to Criticism

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The Monnaie de Paris acknowledged the issue and confirmed that it is working with the 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee to investigate the cause of the damage. A spokesperson stated that the mint has begun replacing damaged medals and will fulfill all replacement requests during the first quarter of 2025. However, the mint did not disclose how many complaints it has received.

In response to claims that employee terminations were linked to the medal controversy, the mint firmly denied firing any production or quality staff over the issue. The French website La Lettre, which conducted an investigative report, had alleged the termination of three employees due to the medals’ manufacturing flaws.

Underlying Issues Date Back Before the Games

Reports suggest that concerns about medal quality emerged well before the Paris Games. According to La Lettre, Chinese tech company Huawei filed complaints with the Monnaie de Paris in 2023 after noticing similar flaws in commemorative medals it had commissioned. These early warnings raise questions about whether the mint adequately addressed quality control issues before producing the Olympic medals.

Athletes Await Resolution

As the controversy continues, athletes across multiple disciplines remain vocal about their frustrations. Many have taken to social media to share images of their damaged medals, amplifying calls for accountability and swifter action. For now, the Monnaie de Paris has reassured athletes that replacements will be identical to the originals, complete with personalized engravings.

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What are your thoughts on the quality of the 2024 Olympic medals? Should stricter standards be enforced for future Games? Share your opinions in the comments below!

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