Why more than 100 Olympic athletes have 'returned medals' after the Paris Games as explanation given

More than 100 Olympic medals have been returned to Paris 2024 organisers since the Games came to an end, it has been claimed. But what exactly is the reason behind those numbers?

There were a total of 878 medal events across individual and team disciplines at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.

The exact number created for both Games combined, as per reports, stood at 5,084 - but each one had a special Parisian theme.

As well as the gold, silver or bronze used, each medal contained a piece of original iron from the Eiffel Tower.

An official Paris 2024 press release described the iron, which is known as 'puddle' iron, as 'almost pure and extremely strong'.

French swimmer Leon Marchand won more individual gold medals (four) than any other athlete at Paris 2024 (Image: Getty)

The iron pieces were removed during the Tower's renovation during the 20th century, having been constructed as part of the original Tower design in 1889 - meaning they were 135 years old by the team they were added to the Paris 2024 medals.

While the individual pieces were expected to be a long-lasting reminder of both the Games and a major part of the Parisian culture, things haven't exactly worked out as planned.

Just days after winning his Olympic bronze medal in skateboarding, Team USA's Nyjah Huston posted a photo of his clearly deteriorated medal onto social media.

He said that after the medal sat on his skin, and allowing friends to wear it, the medal was beginning to look 'rough'.

One of the stories of the Games involved Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, who won four medals - including a gold medal in the floor exercise.

But she later stated that she was having to avoid wearing her medals, as they were 'knocking against each other and scratching'.

And French swimmer Clement Secchi posted a photo of his bronze medal to Instagram, accompanied by a two-word caption: "Crocodile skin."

Image: Instagram/@clem_secchi

All medals were created by the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) ahead of the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.

While they have refused to confirm how many medals were damaged - French outlet La Lettre claim that the number stands at over 100, with numbers relating to Paralympic medals as yet unknown - they have released a statement to Associated Press on the matter.

The statement, which confirms that all damaged medals will be replaced, reads: "The Monnaie de Paris has taken the issue of damaged medals very seriously since the first exchange requests in August, and has mobilised its internal teams.

"Since then, the company has modified and optimised its relative varnishing process.

"The Monnaie de Paris will replace all damaged medals at the athletes' request during the first quarter of 2025."

It has also been confirmed that the damaged medals will be 'engraved in an identical way to the originals'.