Indian Athletes Urge for New Medals in Paris 2024 After Manu Bhaker’s Bold Stand”

Indian athletes who became heroes at the Paris 2024 Olympics are set to have their bronze medals replaced with identical models, after several voiced concerns about rust and deterioration. The athletes have requested replacements due to visible signs of damage on their medals.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that the Monnaie de Paris (the French state mint), responsible for producing and ensuring the quality of the medals, will replace any damaged ones. The replacement process will ensure that the new medals are engraved identically to the originals.

“The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee is collaborating closely with Monnaie de Paris to assess all medal-related complaints, investigate the causes of the damage, and determine appropriate actions. Defective medals will be replaced systematically, and the replacement process is expected to begin in the coming weeks,” the IOC announced.

Manu Bhaker, who earned two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, has already expressed her desire to have her medals replaced with identical versions, joining a growing group of athletes with similar requests. Young Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat, who won bronze in his Olympic debut in the men’s 57 kg freestyle wrestling category, has also noticed fading on his medal, although he has yet to file an official complaint.

Other Indian medalists from the Paris Olympics, Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh, have reported that the color of their medals started to peel off just days after the ceremony. “The color of the bronze medal came off within seven days of winning it. When I returned to India, friends, coaches, and fellow shooters also pointed it out. An Olympic medal is a prized possession for a shooter, and the removal of the coating was quite noticeable. Everyone who saw the medal commented on it,” Kusale told the Indian Express.

Subscribe to our Newsletter