On social media, Olympian, Nyjah Huston left viewers stunned after revealing his bronze medal deteriorated after just a week.
Team USA skateboarder Nyjah Huston recently revealed the surprising condition of his bronze medal, just over a week after winning it in Paris.
Huston is a celebrated athlete with 12 X Games gold medals to his name. He finished third in the men’s street final on July 29. He was behind fellow American Jagger Eaton and Japan’s Yuto Horigome.
However, Huston’s joy over his Olympic achievement turned to disappointment when he noticed his medal’s rapid deterioration.
Team USA star Nyjah Huston revealed the state of his medal
On Instagram, Olympian, who goes by @nyjah, shared a video with his 5.3 million followers, showcasing the “rough” condition of his bronze medal.
The video has the caption:”‘medal looking like it went to war and back’.
In the clip, Olympian, Huston expressed his disappointment, stating, “These Olympic medals look great when they’re brand-new, but after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat and letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they’re apparently not as high quality as you’d think.”
He pointed out visible chipping and wear, noting that even the front of the medal was starting to deteriorate.
The video quickly gained attention and sparked debate on social media.
Huston’s post sparked discussions online, with many expressing their disappointment in the quality of the medals.
One person said: It’s what it represents that’s important. It could be a piece of paper
A second wrote: France is looking and acting like a third world country recently. Britain not far behind.
While a third commented: Hit it with a bit of brasso and a micro fibre cloth, shell be right
Another added: So he didn’t pay attention in school. Copper oxidizes and forms a green patina. If he doesn’t like green, then try winning gold.
Someone else said: Is it just me or is the medal he is showing that has deteriorated not the medal from this Olympics as they look completely different.
The Olympic medals were manufactured by the Paris Mint.
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, who won gold in the gymnastics floor final, echoed Huston’s concerns.
Andrade explained that she was avoiding wearing her medals. They were getting scratched from knocking against each other.
“I’m getting sad. And I don’t want to be sad. So I’m not going to wear them around my neck anymore,” she shared, opting instead to carry them in her hands and pockets.
The medals for the Paris Games were designed by the prestigious Paris jewelry house Chaumet.
Despite the high-profile creators, the durability of the medals has come under scrutiny from athletes.
They expect their hard-earned awards to withstand the test of time.
Nyjah Huston’s experience with his deteriorating bronze medal raises a significant issue for Olympians.
It brings attention to concerns about the quality of the medals they receive.
Athletes dedicate years of hard work and sacrifice to reach the Olympic stage. They expect their medals to reflect that effort.
This expectation applies to both design and durability.
It may be time for the Olympic committees to revisit the materials used in creating these symbols of achievement.