The mystery of the deteriorating Olympic medals
Juan José Saldaña
January 28, 2025

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games became the stage for an unprecedented scandal that shook the reputation of the organizers: the massive deterioration of Olympic medals. More than 100 athletes raised their voices to report an alarming issue — their medals, symbols of years of sacrifice and dedication, began to disintegrate just days after being awarded. Bronze medals, traditionally considered the most durable, seemed more fragile than ever, ironically evoking memories of the Paris 1924 Olympic Games.

The origin of this crisis lies in an apparently innocent but devastating decision. The Monnaie de Paris was forced to modify the traditional coating due to the presence of chromium trioxide, a highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical compound. The search for a safer alternative triggered a series of unforeseen issues, resulting in the accelerated deterioration of the medals that symbolize the pinnacle of athletic achievement.

CAUSES AND RESPONSES

The replacement of the coating led to unexpected consequences that quickly went viral. The new version, designed to be less hazardous, proved defective and caused rapid wear that affected athletes across various disciplines. Swimmers such as Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, divers, and BMX freestyle riders began noticing stains, loss of luster, and surface damage that called into question the quality of these iconic awards.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was compelled to take action, pledging to systematically replace the damaged medals. The Monnaie de Paris, for its part, plans to carry out the replacements during the first quarter of 2025, rejecting the term “defective” and opting to describe the medals as “damaged.” The incident represents not only a logistical crisis but also raises doubts about the organizational capacity of one of the world’s most important sporting events, challenging the attention to detail and commitment to excellence traditionally associated with the Olympic Games.

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