French swimmers revisit Paris Olympics 2024 medal controversy with shocking updates on bronze medal quality

Four months after the Paris 2024 Olympics, two French swimmers have voiced concerns about the condition of their bronze medals. This follows similar complaints from other Olympians about medal deterioration.

Clement Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, who won bronze in the men's 4x100-meter medley relay, shared images of their medals on social media.

Secchi described his medal's appearance as "crocodile skin."

Ndoye-Brouard humorously compared his medal to one from the 1924 Paris Olympics.



These complaints add to the issues faced by Paris 2024 organizers, who previously addressed similar concerns during the Games. They had assured athletes that damaged medals would be replaced.

American skateboarder Nyjah Huston was among the first athletes to raise the issue. He noticed deterioration just ten days after receiving his medal.

'Alright, so these Olympic medals look great when they’re brand new, but after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and then letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they’re apparently not as high quality as you would think.'

'I mean, look at that thing. It’s looking rough. Even the front. It’s starting to chip off a little. So yeah, I don’t know, Olympic medals, you maybe gotta step up the quality a little bit.'

British diver Yasmin Harper also reported signs of deterioration on her bronze medal shortly after the Games.

'There's been some small bits of tarnishing.'

'I think it's water or anything that gets under metal, it's making it go a little bit discoloured, but I'm not sure.'

Harper, who won Britain's first medal at the Paris Games, stated that she wasn't overly concerned.

'because it's still a medal'.

The medals were designed by French luxury jeweler Chaumet. They incorporate a piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower, a tribute to the host city. The composition of Olympic medals varies depending on the specific Games.

Gold medals are primarily silver with a gold plating. Bronze medals are typically an alloy of copper, zinc, and tin.

Bronze is known to oxidize when exposed to air and moisture. The rate of oxidation depends on the specific metal composition. Cheaper metals can accelerate the oxidation process.