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The medals from the 2024 Olympics might not be built to last.
United States rugby star Ilona Maher spoke on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on Monday and admitted that her bronze medal was “wearing a little bit” just a few weeks after winning it.
Maher, 28, was asked by the comedian if she has worn the medal around, to which she replied in the affirmative, before saying she had the bronze with her in a pouch made by Great Britain Olympic diver Tom Daley, who knits, crochets and makes crafts.
“It is gorgeous, it is wearing a little bit,” Maher said of her medal, which came after the U.S. women took a medal in rugby sevens for the first time in Olympic history. “It’s a solid hunk of metal, it’s a great piece of metal.”
Maher’s story comes less than a week after U.S. skateboarder Nyjah Huston said his bronze medal appeared to be worse for the wear after winning it in Paris this summer.
Huston posted a few pictures to his Instagram, showing how the quality of the medal seemed to be less-than-impeccable days after winning it.
on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. Getty Images for USOPC
“Alright, so these Olympic medals look great when they’re brand new,” Huston said in an Instagram story. “But after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they’re apparently not as high quality as you’d think. It’s looking rough.”
“I don’t know, Olympic medals, we gotta step up the quality a little bit,” he added.
British synchronized diver Yasmin Harper also told reporters during the Olympics that her bronze medal also had seen better days.
bronze medal. Nyjah Huston/Instagram
“There’s been some small bits of tarnishing,” she told the BBC. “I think it’s water or anything that gets under medal, it’s making it go a little bit discolored, but I’m not sure.”
The International Olympic Committee told Agence France-Presse that the organization was working closely with the Paris Mint, which produced the medals, to replace those whose qualities had diminished.
“The medals are the most coveted objects of the Games and the most precious for the athletes,” the IOC said.
“Damaged medals will be systematically replaced by the Paris Mint and engraved identically.”
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