Recently, foreign media reported a shocking news: as many as 100 medals were returned by athletes during the 2024 Paris Olympics. These medals, which should have been symbols of the hard work and heroic efforts of the athletes on the field, are now controversial due to quality issues. This incident has quickly attracted widespread attention and heated discussion around the world, not only casting a shadow over the image of the Paris Olympics but also raising deep doubts about the production and quality of the medals.
During the Olympics, some athletes complained about the quality of the medals on social media. French swimmers Clementine Seguin and John N'Doye-Brouard posted photos of their bronze medals after winning, joking about their severe oxidation. The medals in the photos were covered with mottled rust marks, as if they had been washed by the vicissitudes of time, forming a stark contrast with the Olympics that had just ended not long ago. Clementine Seguin even described the medal as being like "crocodile skin," rough and dull, lacking the solemnity and holiness that an Olympic medal should have.
As time went on, more and more athletes found similar problems with their medals. American skateboarder Nyjah Huston posted on social media less than 10 days after the Paris Olympics ended, complaining that his bronze medal was already rusted. He helplessly expressed that the medal looked like a veteran who had gone through countless battles and had lost its former glory. Nyjah Huston's complaint quickly resonated with netizens, who all expressed disappointment and dissatisfaction with the quality of the medals.
Subsequently, French media La Lettre reported that about 100 medals had been returned by athletes due to rapid surface oxidation. These medals were made by the Paris Mint, each containing a small piece of the Eiffel Tower, symbolizing special significance and commemorative value. However, these precious medals have become a burden for the athletes due to quality issues. In response to this situation, the Paris Organizing Committee quickly responded, promising to replace all affected medals. The International Olympic Committee also stated that it will fully support the work of the Paris Organizing Committee and the Paris Mint to ensure that identical style medals are replaced for the athletes.
Some netizens expressed sympathy for the athletes, believing that their hard-earned honors should not be tarnished by such a defective medal, while others think that in comparison, the quality of our Beijing Olympics medals is better, as no quality issues have been reported for so many years.