This would not have happened with professional electroplating. Over 100 of the Paris Olympians have returned their medals because they are rusting, discoloring and parts are chipping off. The bronze medals of the third-placed swimmers are particularly affected, including Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, who came third with the French team in the medley relay with four different swimming styles.
Unfortunately, no details are known about the plating of the awards; Olympic gold medals are usually made of silver plated with gold. Bronze medals are made of copper, zinc and pewter. The Paris Olympic medals also contain a small piece of the Eiffel Tower. Heads have rolled at the medal manufacturer Monnaie de Paris. Among other things, prohibited materials and a missing test phase are cited as the cause. "Damaged medals will be systematically replaced by Monnaie de Paris and engraved in the same way as the originals," promised the Olympic Committee. Monnaie de Paris is the French state mint. Electroplating is an important surface treatment in the production of coins and medals, including copper plating, which could also have been used on the bronze medals.
