9-8-2024 (PARIS) The prestige of Olympic medals, long considered the pinnacle of sporting achievement, has come under unexpected scrutiny following claims by a Team USA athlete that his recently won bronze medal has shown signs of wear and tear after just one week.
Nyjah Huston, who secured a third-place finish in the men’s skateboard street event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has sparked debate over the durability and quality of the medals awarded at this year’s Games. In a candid video shared with his five million Instagram followers, Huston expressed surprise and disappointment at the apparent deterioration of his prized accolade.
“These Olympic medals look great when they’re brand new,” Huston remarked in his post. “But after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and letting my friends wear it over the weekend… they’re apparently not as high quality as you’d think.”
The 29-year-old skateboarding sensation, who boasts an impressive collection of 12 X Games gold medals and six World Championship titles, zoomed in on his Olympic bronze to reveal chipping and discolouration. He described the medal as looking like “it went to war and back”, adding that the bronze coating appeared to have rubbed off in places.
This year’s Olympic medals feature a unique design element: a piece of recycled scrap metal from the iconic Eiffel Tower. Over 5,000 of these medals have been produced by France’s national mint for the Paris Games, making the reported quality issues particularly concerning.
Huston’s critique has raised questions about the manufacturing process and materials used in creating these symbols of Olympic excellence. “Olympic medals, we gotta step up the quality a little bit,” the athlete concluded in his social media post.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has yet to respond to these allegations. However, the situation has prompted discussions among athletes, sports officials, and fans about the expected longevity of Olympic medals and whether the incorporation of recycled materials may have compromised their durability.
