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Renowned skateboarder Nyjah Huston has publicly shared his disappointment with the condition of his Olympic bronze medal, just days after winning it at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Huston, who secured third place in the men's street skateboarding final, took to social media to express his concerns about the medal's quality.
Huston posted a series of Instagram Stories, showing the visible wear and tear on his medal. "Alright, so these Olympic medals look great when they are brand new," he began. "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 are apparently not as high quality as you would think." He then showed the medal to his followers, highlighting the chipping and discoloration. "I mean look at that thing, it's looking rough. Even the front is starting to chip off a little," he added.
The skateboarder's frustration was palpable as he continued to critique the medal's durability. "So I don't know ... Olympic medals, you gotta maybe step up the quality a little bit," he suggested. In another post, Huston shared a shot of the medal in front of a picturesque background, writing, "Medal looking like it went to war and back," accompanied by a raised eyebrow and crying with laughter emoji.
The medals, which feature a piece of recycled scrap metal from the Eiffel Tower, have been produced by France's mint for the Games. However, Huston's experience suggests that the materials used may not be as durable as expected.
Huston's bronze medal is his first Olympic medal, but he is no stranger to the podium. He has secured gold medals in skateboarding 12 times at the X Games and six times at the World Championships. Despite his extensive experience in competitive skateboarding, Huston admitted that the condition of his Olympic medal was disappointing. "Looks like ya won that thing in 1982 mate," one person commented on his Instagram post, to which Huston shared the response on his Instagram Stories.
The skateboarder's candid posts have garnered significant attention, with many fans and fellow athletes expressing their surprise and concern over the medal's condition. Reports indicate that Huston's bronze medal was already chipped and losing its color just days after the event. "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," Huston reiterated.
