Olympics

Ilona Maher is latest Olympian to call out quality of bronze medal: ‘Wearing a little bit’

The medals from the 2024 Olympics might not be🅺 built to last.

United States rugby star Ilona Maher spoke on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on Monday and admitted that her bronze medal was “wearing a little bit” just a few weeks after winning it.

Maher, 28, was asked by the comedian if she has worn the medal around, to which she replied i🅺n the affirmative, before saying she had the bronze with her in a pouch made by Great Britain Olympic diver Tom Daley, .

Ilona Maher of the United States celebrates following victory during the Women’s Rugby Sevens Bronze medal match between the U.S. and Team Australia on Day 4 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 30, 2024. Getty Images

“It is gorgeous, it is wearing a little bit,” Maher said of her medal, which came after the U.S. women took a medal in rugby sevens for the first ti𝔉me in Olympic history. “It’s a solid hunk of metal, it’s a great piece of metal.”

Maher’s story comes less than a week after U.S. skateboarder Nyjah Huston said his bronze medal appeared to be worse for the wear after winning it in Paris this summer.

Huston posted a few pictures to his Instagram, showing how the quality 𒈔of the medal seemed to be less-than-impeccable days after w🐓inning it.

Ilona Maher poses for a photo at the USA House at Paris 2024
on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. Getty Images for USOPC

“Alright, so these Olympic medals look great when they’re brand new,” Huston said in an Instagram story. “But after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they’re appa🥀rently 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 littleꦚ 💛bit,” he added.

British synchronized diver Yasmﷺin Harper also told reporters during the Olympics that her bronze medal also had seen better days.

Nyjah Huston, of the United States, poses after winning the bronze medal in the men’s skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024. AP
US Olympic skateboarder Nyjah Huston shows off the state of his
bronze medal. Nyjah Huston/Instagram
Yasmin Harper of Team Great Britain competes during the Women’s 3m Springboard Final on Day 14 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Aquatics Centre on August 09, 2024. Getty Images

“There’s been some small bits of tarnishing,” . “I think it’s water or anything that gets under medal, it’s making it go a little bit discolored, but I’m not sure.”

The International Olympic Committee told Agence France-Presse that the organization was working closely with the Paris Mint, which produced the medals, to replace those whose qualities had diminish𓄧ed.

“The medals are the most coveted objects of the Games and the most precious for the athletes,” .

“Damaged medals will be systematically replaced by the Paris Mint and engraved identically.”