Olympic organizers vow to replace damaged Olympic medals in wake of criticism

In a statement sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Saturday, the Games organizing committee 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.”

The IOC also told AFP 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.”

They further clarified: “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.”

Reports in France state that no other athlete had reported damage to the Paris Mint, however diver Yasmin Harper, who claimed Britain’s first medal of the Paris Olympics, has admitted that her bronze is already becoming “discolored.”

“The medals. Er, there has been some small bits of tarnishing I will admit, yes,” Harper said. “Yes I have looked at mine. A little bit (of tarnishing). “I don’t know, I think it’s like water or anything that gets on the metal, it’s making it go a little bit discoloured.”

The Paris Mint made just over 5,000 medals in total, with 2,600 for the Olympics and 2,400 for the Paralympics. Each weighs around 530g and was designed by the luxury brand Chaumet. Each medal also contains a piece of the Eiffel Tower preserved during renovations to the Paris landmark.