French sporting luminaries were on hand for the unveiling,  including Olympic champions like slalom canoeist Tony Estanguet (President of Paris 2024) and biathlete Martin Fourcade (President of the Paris 2024 Athletes’ Commission), and 20-time Paralympic swimming champion Beatrice Hess.  

Designing the medal was a challenge taken up by expert jewellery maker Chaumet and includes the Eiffel Tower as a signature element.

In addition to the precious metals that championship medals are known for, each Paris 2024 Olympic medal contains another highly symbolic and priceless piece of metal. Whether it’s a gold, silver or bronze medal, each one will contain a piece of the original iron from the Eiffel Tower.

“There was a huge amount done to try to bring together these precious metals - gold, silver and bronze - with the most precious metal in the Eiffel Tower, the jewel in the French crown,” said Estanguet. “So what’s specific about the 2024 medals is that meshing together, that fusion, that alloy…”

Added champion swimmer Hess: “As a French person, these medals represent pride, they also represent victory, but they also represent a jewel."