The 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics have been marred by a significant issue: defective medals. The Monnaie de Paris, the French mint responsible for crafting the medals, has confirmed that a substantial number of medals, primarily bronze, have exhibited premature tarnishing and discoloration. While the exact number of affected medals remains undisclosed, reports suggest that over 100 have already been returned for replacement. The mint has pledged to replace all defective medals during the first quarter of 2025 and has expressed that they are taking the matter ”very seriously.”
The issue has surfaced across various sports, with athletes sharing images of their tarnished medals on social media. Swedish sailor Anton Dahlberg, a bronze medalist, noticed the deterioration of his medal within just two weeks of the Games. He describes his medal as ”sad” and laments the rapid loss of its original luster. While he acknowledges the medal’s authenticity and its significance as a memento of his achievement, Dahlberg is grappling with the decision of whether to return it for a replacement. He values the sentimental connection to the original medal but also desires a pristine version to cherish for a lifetime.
Paralympic cyclist Anna Beck, another bronze medalist, expressed surprise upon learning of the widespread issue, initially unaware of any defects with her own medal. After checking, she confirmed that her medal remained untarnished, likely due to its being stored in a protective environment. The contrasting experiences of Dahlberg and Beck highlight the unpredictable nature of the defect and the varying conditions under which the medals have been kept.
Shooter Victor Lindgren, a silver medalist, has also been unaffected by the issue. However, he revealed that his Croatian counterpart, bronze medalist Miran Maricic, experienced discoloration and subsequently returned his medal. Lindgren, who works as a welder and possesses knowledge of metals, speculates that the defect likely stems from a chemical reaction during the medal’s finishing process. This insight suggests that the problem may be rooted in the treatment of the bronze medals rather than the inherent properties of the metal itself.
The list of Swedish medalists from the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics includes notable achievements across various disciplines. Gold medals were secured by Sarah Sjöström (swimming, two golds), Armand Duplantis (pole vault), and the beach volleyball duo of David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig. Silver medals went to Victor Lindgren (shooting), Rebecca Netzler and Vilma Bobeck (sailing), Truls Möregårdh (table tennis singles), and the table tennis team of Möregårdh, Anton Källberg, and Kristian Karlsson. Bronze medalists include Tarah Babulfath (judo), Jenny Rissveds (mountain biking), and the sailing team of Anton Dahlberg and Lovisa Karlsson.
On the Paralympic front, Anna Benson won silver in shooting, while Anna Beck (cycling) and Nicolina Pernheim Goodrich (judo) both secured bronze medals. The defective medal issue, while unfortunate, underscores the challenges of preserving these symbols of athletic achievement. The Monnaie de Paris’s commitment to replacing the affected medals offers a solution, albeit one that requires patience from the athletes. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex interplay of materials, processes, and environmental factors that can impact even the most meticulously crafted objects.
