Olympic medals under the spotlight after criticism from athletes

Great Britain diver Yasmin Harper revealed that her Olympic medal has “small bits of tarnishing” on it after skateboarder Nyjah Huston criticised the quality of his bronze.

Team USA’s Hutson came third in the men’s street skateboarding final on July 29, but 11 days later he shared images on Instagram of the medal, which appeared to look discoloured and slightly chipped.

Harper won Team GB’s first medal of the Games, taking bronze with partner Scarlett Mew Jensen in the women’s 3m synchronised springboard diving final and admitted that her medal has also been affected.

“There’s been some small bits of tarnishing, I will admit,” Harper said following her fifth-placed finish in the women’s 3m springboard competition on Friday.

“I think it’s water or anything that gets under metal, it’s making it go a little bit discoloured, but I’m not sure.”

When asked if the tarnishing of her medal bothered her, Harper replied: “No, because it’s still a medal.”

Each Olympic and Paralympic medal at Paris 2024 has been designed by French luxury jeweller Chaumet and is set with a piece of original iron from the Eiffel Tower.

The medals are stamped with “Paris 2024” and the Games logo, as well as the five Olympic rings for the Olympic Games.

The ancient Greek goddess of victory, Nike, features on the other side of the Olympic medals.

In a post on his Instagram stories, Huston criticised the quality of his medal, saying: “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 apparently not as high quality as you would think.”

He then showed a video of the medal’s condition on both sides, adding: “Look at that thing, it’s looking rough, even the front is starting to chip off a little.

“Olympic medals, you’ve maybe got to step up the quality a little bit.”