Medalists at the Paris Olympics hit two birds in one stone as victorious athletes were presented with a unique opportunity to possess a tangible segment of one of the world’s most renowned and historic structures, the Eiffel Tower.
Designed by the French jewelry house Chaumet, the medals for each Olympic and Paralympic winner have three elements that are special to France: the hexagon, radiance, and the setting.
The medal’s centerpiece is shaped like a hexagon, which pays homage to the country’s nickname, “l’hexagone,” and its geographical shape. This part of the medal is infused with iron fragments extracted from the Eiffel Tower and “carefully stored during the renovations that took place in the 20th century.”
The outer part of the medal is intricately designed to catch and reflect light, producing a dazzling sparkle through its 3D rays. The designer aims to symbolize the brilliance of France and the Olympic athletes, expressing that their performances will shine brightly in the eyes of the world.
The claw setting that connects the iron hexagon to the rest of the medal pays homage to the Eiffel Tower. The setting is designed in a shape known as “Clous de Paris,” which resembles the rivets seen on the iconic French landmark.
Meanwhile, the Paralympic medal for this year features a unique design element that pays tribute to Frenchman Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille, wherein the words “Paris” and “2024,” inscribed at the top and bottom, are scripted in Braille on the left and right sides of the medal.
Tactile engravings on the edges of medals help athletes with visual impairments distinguish between the different types of medals. A single dash is engraved for gold, two for silver, and three for bronze.