Nyjah Huston's Bronze Olympic Medal Shows Signs of Deterioration

American skateboarder Nyjah Huston has raised concerns about the quality of his Olympic medal, which has shown signs of wear and tear after only a few days. Huston and other medalists have reported discoloration, chipping, and tarnishing on their bronze medals, prompting the Paris Mint to promise replacements for damaged medals.

American skateboarder Nyjah Huston has raised concerns about the quality of his Olympic medal, which has shown signs of wear and tear after only a few days. In a video posted to Instagram, Huston showed the medal's discoloration and chipping, suggesting that the Olympic medals may not be as high-quality as one would expect.

Huston, who won bronze in the men's street event in Paris, began the video by saying, "All right, so these Olympic medals look great when they are brand new." However, he went on to show the medal's wear and tear, saying, "But after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and then letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they are apparently not as high quality as you would think."

Nyjah Huston's Bronze Olympic Medal Shows Signs of Deterioration

Huston also showed another side of the medal, revealing the lack of shine remaining on the bronze coating. "It's looking rough. Even the front is starting to chip off a little," he said. "Olympic medals, you gotta maybe step up the quality a little bit."

Huston's concerns have been echoed by other medalists, including Yasmin Harper, who represented Great Britain at the Paris Olympics and took bronze in the women's 3-meter synchronized springboard diving event. Harper said that her medal had some noticeable discoloration and suggested that it was due to water or other substances getting under the medal.

Nyjah Huston's Bronze Olympic Medal Shows Signs of Deterioration

The Paris Mint has responded to the criticism by promising to "systematically replace" any Olympic medal that deteriorated. Meanwhile, Olympics organizers said they will conduct a study of any medal that they learn is damaged. Upon review, a medal will be re-engraved if it is deemed necessary.

The organizing committee also said it had "taken note of the testimony on social networks of an athlete whose medal was damaged a few days after it was presented," per a statement sent to Agence France-Presse.

The International Olympic Committee also told the French news agency that they were "working closely with the Paris Mint, responsible for the production and quality control of the medals, and with the National Olympic Committee of the athlete concerned, in order to examine the medal in question to understand the circumstances and the cause of the damage."

An spokesperson for the 2024 Paris Games further clarified by saying, "The medals are the most coveted objects of the Games and the most precious for the athletes. Damaged medals will be systematically replaced by the Paris Mint and engraved identically."

Despite the concerns raised, Olympic organizers emphasized that the medals are inspected before being awarded and that they meet the technical specifications set by the International Olympic Committee. However, they acknowledged that medals can be damaged due to various factors, such as wear and tear or improper handling.

In response to Huston's concerns, the Paris Mint stated that it had taken measures to improve the quality of the medals for future Olympic Games. According to the Mint, the bronze medals for the Paris Olympics were composed of 97% copper and 3% tin, with a thickness of 3mm and a diameter of 125mm. The medals were said to be coated with a layer of lacquer to protect them from oxidation and wear.

Despite the Mint's assurances, the concerns raised by Huston and other medalists have raised questions about the durability and quality of the Olympic medals. The International Olympic Committee and the Paris Mint have said they will continue to monitor the situation and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that the medals awarded to athletes are of the highest quality.