Olympic glory is supposed to come with medals that shine, a lasting symbol of all the blood, sweat, and tears athletes pour into their craft. But what happens when that symbol starts to fade, chip, or peel just weeks after the celebration? That’s exactly what caught a few athletes off guard at the Paris Olympics. Imagine standing on the podium, proud as ever, only to discover your medal is damaged. Hunter Woodhall, a five-time Paralympic medalist who took home gold in the Paris Olympics, knows this feeling all too well. Even though his medal got damaged, he’s choosing to keep it, and there’s a reason why. Meanwhile, his fellow American skateboarder, after nearly 10 months of back and forth, is finally about to get his bronze medal repaired.
Nyjah Huston clinched bronze in the men’s street skateboarding final on July 29, 2024, at the Paris Olympics. Just days later, he noticed his medal starting to deteriorate. In a candid Instagram post, he revealed that the medal had begun to chip and lose its color, stating, “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’d think.” The front of the medal was particularly affected, showing visible signs of wear.
Nyjah Huston’s concerns weren’t unique. Over 100 athletes reported issues with their Olympic medals, ranging from tarnishing and flaking to full-on discoloration. The medals, crafted by Monnaie de Paris and embedded with iron from the Eiffel Tower, began showing signs of wear just months after the Games. In response, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Paris Olympics 2024 organizers launched a program to repair or replace the damaged medals. But that process dragged on. It’s been 10 months since then until finally, he got the green light.
As of May 26, 2025, Huston confirmed that the IOC had taken possession of his bronze medal for restoration. Speaking with TMZ, he shared his relief, saying the medal is now “getting fixed up.” Unlike a simple swap, this process means he’ll be getting his original medal back, just renewed. “They’re going to fix the original one,” he said. “Which I think is actually a lot cooler than just replacing it.” Huston added that the damage didn’t bother him too much, but still, having his original piece of Olympic history restored? That hits different. But why did Woodhall opt to keep his damaged gold Olympic medal???
Hunter Woodhall opens up about the emotions in keeping his damaged Olympics medal
Hunter Woodhall made history at the 2024 Paris Paralympics by winning his first-ever Paralympic gold medal in the men’s 400m T62 final, clocking an incredible 46.36 seconds. This victory placed him ahead of Germany’s Johannes Floors and the Netherlands’ Olivier Hendriks. What made the moment even more special was the timing—it came just weeks after his wife, Tara Davis-Woodhall, captured Olympic gold in the women’s long jump at the very same stadium. Reflecting on the powerful parallel, Hunter told CNN, “It’s pretty insane. The Olympics and Paralympics are such different things, and the way they run them and treat them is just so drastically different. But I think to be able to have two golds in one house and to be able to celebrate them the same way—it’s amazing.”
Shortly after the Games, though, Hunter faced an unexpected problem: his gold medal’s ribbon got damaged. In a lighthearted TikTok, he shared, “POV: You win a Paralympic gold medal and ruin it,” explaining that he had wrapped the ribbon too tightly around the medal, and the sharp edge tore right through the fabric. He was given the choice by Olympics organizers to get the medal replaced. “I now have two options—I can send this medal back, and they can send me a new one with a fixed ribbon, but it will be a different medal,” he explained. But Hunter opted to keep the original. Instead, with the help of his wife and his mom, they carefully stitched the ribbon back together and added a small, embroidered “W” as a personal touch. Tara, in her Instagram Story, affectionately posted, “We fixed it ,” showing off the repaired medal with pride.
Hunter Woohall’s damaged medal was part of a wider issue; over 100 athletes from Paris Olympics 2024. The International Olympic Committee has since confirmed it would offer repairs. But for Hunter, the fix was never about perfection, it was about meaning. “I don’t want a new one,” he said. “This one means something. It’s been through something. It’s ours.” His words show not only the physical journey of the medal but also the emotional journey behind it!
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