Recently, an athlete has drawn attention to the noticeable differences between the gold medals awarded at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and those at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This discussion has sparked a debate about the quality and standards of Olympic medals.
The 2024 Paris Olympics may have just concluded, but some athletes are already voicing their disappointment with the quality of the gold medals they earned.
Team USA skateboarder Nyjah Huston posted a photo of his bronze medal from the Games. He showed that it had already started to change appearance just a week after he received it.
This prompted comparisons between the Paris medals and those awarded at the previous Olympics in Tokyo 2020.
Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 gold medal has a big difference in quality
Danish badminton player Viktor Axelsen won gold medals in both the Paris and Tokyo Games.
He decided to compare his two prized possessions directly.
Surprisingly, the difference was quite striking.
While Axelsen’s Tokyo 2020 gold medal retained its brilliant shine and luster, the Paris 2024 version already appeared dull and tarnished in comparison.
Many on social media agreed, with one person commenting that the Parisian medal ‘looks like a chocolate wrapper.’
Paris Olympic officials issue an explanation on the matter
Officials from the Paris 2024 organizing committee have acknowledged the issue, stating they will replace any ‘damaged’ medals.
They explained that the change in appearance is due to the metals used.
The gold and silver medals contain over 92.5% silver, while the bronze is mostly copper.
Additionally, the Paris 2024 medals feature recycled materials from the Eiffel Tower, unlike the Tokyo 2020 medals which contained bits of recycled electronics.
This composition difference may contribute to the more rapid oxidation and dulling of the Paris medals.
While the organizers promise to address concerns, some athletes feel the quality of the medals should be prioritized.
This is especially important for those who have won multiple Olympic titles.
“Paris looks like a bargain bin,” one social media user commented, comparing Axelsen’s two gold medals side-by-side.
Social media reactions
The debate over the Paris 2024 medals has sparked wider discussions on social media.
Some have argued that the appearance of the medals should not overshadow the immense achievement of the athletes who earn them.
However, others counter that the Olympics are a global spectacle, and the medals should reflect the prestige and grandeur of the event.
A tarnished and dull medal can take away from the feeling of achievement.
This is important for those who have worked their whole lives to reach this high point.
It’s one thing after another, what did Paris get right, and where did they spend the money, has to be one of the worst Olympic games ever, one user said.
Paris Olympic was a disaster, the second user commented.
Almost everything in these games was of poor quality.
The thing is that we are supposed to constantly say “it’s great”, just because this is Paris, the third user indicated.
It identify as gold so it is gold, another wrote.