Olympic medal quality unraveled by Kazakhstani athletes

Published August 21, 2024 20:50

(modified August 21, 2024 20:51)
Rus Biketov

Rus Biketov

Collage by Kursiv.media, photo editor: Arthur Aleskerov

Kazakhstani bronze medalists Nazym Kyzaibay and Gusman Kyrgyzbayev have complained about the quality of the Olympic medal. They shared their observations during the first 2024 Olympic medalist press conference in Almaty.

Boxer Nazym said that she had heard other athletes complain about medal quality before winning her own bronze medal. 

«To be honest, the quality is bad. It already has some scuffs on the outer side. But overall, the medal looks nice. I have won a lot of medals in boxing, but the Olympic medal is the most beautiful,» she said.

Another 2024 Olympic bronze medalist shares her opinion, judoka Gusman Kyrgyzbayev.

«When I was in France, the medal was always hanging on my neck, even in the airplane. I kept an eye on it, and it looked pretty good. But when I came to Almaty, when I was greeted, a lot of people held it and touched it at home, in the banquet hall. Afterwards, I took a look at it and noticed some scuffs. The bronze medal isn’t of great quality, but its design rocks. I like it. Whatever the medal is, it is still an Olympian one, and we will appreciate it, even if it spoils completely,» he said.

A quick reminder: American skateboarder Nyjah Huston had earlier spoken poorly of the medal quality, which caused a stir among various media outlets.

«Alright, so 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 letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they’re apparently not as high quality as you’d think,» Huston said in an Instagram story.

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