Olympians Concerned That Their Medals Are Chipping and Rusting Already

Just weeks after securing his second Olympic bronze in fencing, Team USA’s Nick Itkin has joined the growing chorus of athletes criticizing the quality of the Paris 2024 medals. The 24-year-old shared a photo of his medal on TikTok, revealing it to be scratched and discolored.

Itkin’s post follows similar complaints from fellow American Olympians Nyjah Huston and Ilona Maher. Skateboarder Huston was the first to raise concerns about the medals’ durability, showcasing his own tarnished bronze medal on social media. He described it as looking like it had “been to war and back.”

Many online commenters have attributed the rapid deterioration to oxidation, a natural process where metal reacts with oxygen in the air. While the Olympic medals are undoubtedly symbols of great achievement, these recent complaints have cast a shadow over their perceived value and durability.