Winning an Olympic gold is a dream come true for millions of athletes, but many of those who returned home from Paris 2024 have been dealing with a variety of challenges.

According to reports, over 100 competitors who won bronze, silver, or gold medals in the Paris 2024 Olympics had returned them barely six months later.

French daily La Lettre made the accusation, claiming that athletes have lodged several complaints since the sporting competition.

Some individuals have returned medals due to their quality, claiming that corrosion has damaged them.

When did the Olympic medal complaints start?

The story began when skateboarder Nyjah Huston, who secured the bronze medal in the tournament, voiced his dissatisfaction with the medal’s quality, stating that it appeared slightly worn out just 10 days following his competition.

“Alright, so these Olympic medals look great when they’re brand new, 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’re not as high quality as you would think,” he told reporters at the time.

“Just look at that thing. It’s not looking good. Even in front. It’s beginning to chip away a little. So, I don’t know, Olympic medals, maybe you might step up the quality a little bit.”

A Paris 2024 representative said at the time that athletes with damaged medals would receive replacements.

However, we continue to receive concerns.

Two French Olympians have become the latest to criticize the quality of their medals, trashing them on social media.

Swimmer Yohann Ndoye-Brouard posted a photo of his fading medal, joking that it was from the 1924 Paris Olympics rather than 2024.

Meanwhile, another swimmer, Clement Secchi, posted a photo of his flaking medal along with the phrase ‘crocodile skin’.

What are the Olympic medals composed of?

Each Olympics awards gold, silver, and bronze medals, but the specific makeup of the medals varies.

Gold medals are mostly composed of silver with a gold plating. Copper, zinc, and tin are the main components of bronze medals.

Bronze oxidizes spontaneously when exposed to air and moisture. The alloy’s metal composition determines the rate of bronze degradation, with cheaper metals sometimes accelerating the process.

Speaking to Mail Sport, the International Olympic Committee stated that it is aware of the concerns and is committed to resolving the situation.

The committee declared, “The Monnaie de Paris, the institution responsible for the production and quality control of the medals, is working closely with the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 to assess any issues with medals and understand the circumstances and cause of any damage.”

“The Monnaie de Paris will methodically repair damaged medals and engrave them in the same fashion as the originals.

“In the coming weeks, Paris 2024 and Monnaie de Paris, in collaboration with the athletes’ respective National Olympic Committees, should begin the process of providing replacements.” Paris 2024 is in communication with the respective National Olympic Committees.”