French Swimmers Criticize the Quality of Their Bronze Medals
French swimmers, Clément Secchi and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, have taken to social media to express their disappointment with the bronze medals they received for their 4×100-meter mixed medley relay victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The swimmers shared photos of their medals, showcasing the significant corrosion and wear, and humorously lamented the poor quality of the awards.
Secchi posted a picture of his medal on Instagram, with a noticeable flaking surface, and captioned it “Croc skin.” His teammate, Ndoye-Brouard, responded on Twitter with a photo of his own medal, equally worn out, and ironically titled it “Paris 1924” as if it were from a bygone era.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the quality of Olympic medals. Earlier in the summer, American skateboarder Nyjah Huston, a bronze medalist in the street event, complained that his medal had begun to show signs of wear and tear after just a few days, due to sweat and occasional handling by friends.
The Olympic organizers had previously promised to replace and re-grave any damaged medals, ensuring their original design is preserved, courtesy of the luxury brand Chaumet and the Paris Mint.
Despite the medals’ aesthetic design, which even incorporates a small piece of the Eiffel Tower, the repeated complaints raise questions about the overall quality of the medals. For the athletes, these medals serve as more than just mementos – they symbolize the hard work and success that led to those moments of triumph.
The fact that these symbols of achievement are already showing significant wear and tear, mere months after the event, has left winners and fans alike shaking their heads in dismay.