The designer of the paris olympics medal breaks silence as over 100 athletes reportedly return their medals following the conclusion of the games.
Athletes raise concerns over the durability of Paris Olympics medals
Several athletes from the 2024 Paris Olympics have returned their medals due to concerns about their quality and durability.
Reports emerged near the end of the games about medals appearing weathered and damaged within days of being awarded.
Athletes share personal experiences with medal damage
Team USA skateboarder Nyjah Huston shared his experience on Instagram, showing visible damage to his medal after minimal use.
He noted that sweat and handling caused the surface to chip.
This raised questions about the quality of the Paris medals compared to the Tokyo 2021 Olympic medals, which maintained better durability.
Over 100 medals have been replaced due to quality issues
According to the French publication La Lettre, more than 100 athletes returned their medals for replacements. This led to public scrutiny of the design and production process.
The medals were designed by LVMH and featured unique elements, including a piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower and intricate engravings of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, alongside iconic symbols like the Acropolis and the Eiffel Tower.
However, LVMH clarified that while they designed the medals, the production was handled by Monnaie de Paris.
A varnish issue may be the cause of damage
Monnaie de Paris, responsible for manufacturing the medals, denied reports that employees had been fired over the issue. They also stated that medals returned by athletes would be replaced promptly.
LADbible received a statement from a spokesperson for Monnaie de Paris.
“Monnaie de Paris modified the varnish and optimized its manufacturing process to make it more resistant to certain uses of the medals by athletes.
“The replacement of damaged medals has been initiated in liaison with the IOC and the Paris 2024 organizing committee.
“All damaged medals will be replaced and identically engraved at the request of athletes during the 1st quarter of 2025.”
The damage was attributed to a new varnish formula introduced to eliminate the carcinogen chromium trioxide, previously used in medal coatings. The change, while necessary for safety, impacted the medals’ durability.
Steps taken to address the problem
Monnaie de Paris released a statement acknowledging the issue and detailing their response:
- They conducted internal reviews and adjusted the varnish for better durability.
- The manufacturing process was optimized to prevent similar problems in the future.
- Athletes who returned damaged medals will receive replacements by the first quarter of 2025, with identical engravings.
The production team created 5,084 medals for the Paris Olympics, but their durability concerns highlighted the challenge of balancing design, safety, and functionality. Efforts are underway to restore the reputation of these iconic symbols of victory.