- The proposal has been put forward by 200-year-old specialist medal manufacturer, Vaughtons
- The offer comes after several American athletes revealed the sorry state of their medals.
British Olympians whose Paris 2024 medals were prematurely tarnished have been offered free repair and refurbishment by a company that makes Aston Martin bonnet emblems.
The bid to revamp recently awarded prizes at the Paris 2024 Olympics comes after complaints from medallists that some of the prizes handed out at the games have already lost their lustre.
The proposal has been made by Vaughtons, a 200-year-old manufacturer of medals, badges, civic insignia and other objects based in Birmingham’s famous jewellery district and which has been producing the emblems of the British luxury car firm for more than 60 years.
A 200-year-old British badge-making specialist, which produces Aston Martin emblems, has offered to repair worn Paris Olympic medals awarded to Britain’s athletes.
The company also supplies Royal Households around the world and is best known in the automotive industry as the manufacturer of the iconic ‘Wings’ emblems for Aston Martin, as well as emblems for automotive companies including McLaren, Bentley and Surrey-based Gordon Murray Automotive.
Vaughtons said he has been contacted by parties interested in renewing the Paris 2024 Olympic medals.
But before any official commission, Vaughtons managing director Nick Hobbis has already offered to help any British Olympic medal winners free of charge with any work on their medals.
This offer applies to both the recently concluded Olympic Games and the upcoming Paralympic Games.
Mr Hobbis said: “We are very proud of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. It would be an honour to help these athletes look after their medals for life.”
This is not Vaughtons’ first connection to the Olympics.
It already has a long and distinguished tradition of making iconic pieces that includes medals from the 1908 London Olympics, an earlier FA Cup, Premier League medals and even the door plaques for the ill-fated Titanic.
During the Covid pandemic, she also made thank you badges to raise money to help support NHS services.
Vaughtons said he has been contacted by parties interested in renewing the Paris 2024 Olympic medals.
The company supplies Royal Households around the world and is best known in the motor industry as the manufacturer of the iconic ‘Wings’ badges for Aston Martin, as well as badges for car companies including McLaren, Bentley and Surrey-based Gordon Murray Automotive.
The company said the Olympics and Vaughtons were “a perfect match.”
He added: ‘When it was announced that the 1908 Games would be held in London, our expert craftsmen were asked to create the medals for the event.
‘Each of these medals was created as a symbol of triumph, greatness and unwavering determination to be the best, something the Vaughtons were naturally suited to.’
Nyjah Huston shared the shocking condition of his bronze medal days after the Olympics
Last week, organizers of the 2024 Olympics promised to replace athletes’ rusty medals after Team USA skater Nyjah Huston revealed the condition of his bronze medal a week after winning it in Paris.
The 29-year-old showed his Instagram followers how his medal had started to peel off shortly after returning to the United States.
Huston posted online: ‘Alright, these Olympic medals look great when they’re new.
“But after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat on it for a while and letting my friends wear it over the weekend,” Huston continues, before pausing and panning the camera to reveal the flaws in his new medal.
American rugby sensation Ilona Maher also showed off the deteriorating state of her Olympic bronze medal during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Team USA fencer Nick Itkin also recently revealed the “appalling” state of his Olympic bronze medal just two weeks after winning it.
A Games spokesperson told Mail Sport: ‘Paris 2024 is aware of a report on social media of an athlete whose medal showed damage a few days after being delivered.
«Paris 2024 is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris, the institution responsible for the production and quality control of medals, and the National Olympic Committee of the athlete concerned, in order to assess the medal and understand the circumstances and cause of the damage.»
