A Touch of History: Paris 2024 Medals Encrusted with Eiffel Tower Iron
The 2024 Paris Olympics celebrates the return of the Games to France with a truly unique medal design. Each medal, a symbol of athletic triumph, incorporates a piece of the iconic Eiffel Tower, weaving a touch of Parisian history into the fabric of victory.
Athletes at the Heart of Design
The design process wasn’t solely about aesthetics. Paris 2024 actively involved the Athletes’ Commission, led by Martin Fourcade. Their winning idea? A powerful fusion – the prestigious Games medal and the beloved Eiffel Tower, a symbol of France and Paris.
A Piece of Parisian Legacy
Every Olympic and Paralympic medal proudly displays a genuine piece of Eiffel Tower iron, sourced from renovations that preserved the monument’s heritage. These elements, stripped of their paint, reveal their original color and become a permanent part of sporting glory.
A Collaboration of Expertise
Paris 2024 partnered with Chaumet, a renowned LVMH jeweler, to bring the medal design to life. Their craftsmanship transformed the medal into a jewel, inspired by three key themes: the hexagon, radiance, and gem-setting.
The Hexagon: A Shape Steeped in Symbolism
The Eiffel Tower iron is embedded in a hexagonal shape, reflecting the geometric form of France itself. This symbol embodies the entire nation’s commitment to delivering these historic Games.
Radiance of Achievement
Fine lines radiate outwards from the central iron hexagon, adding both texture and sparkle to the medal’s surface. This design evokes the brilliance of France and the athletes’ dazzling performances.
Setting the Gem: A Parisian Touch
The Eiffel Tower iron is secured within the medal using six metal clasps, each reminiscent of the Parisian hobnail design, the “Clous de Paris.” This technique, coupled with the medal’s slightly concave shape, creates a visually engaging depth.
Unifying the Games: Shared Design Elements
Continuing their focus on bringing the Olympics and Paralympics closer, Paris 2024 designed the medals with a unified side featuring the Eiffel Tower element. Additionally, the medal ribbons for both Games are adorned with a pattern inspired by the Eiffel Tower’s latticework. While the Olympic ribbons are deep blue, the Paralympic ribbons evoke the monument’s early colors with a rich red hue.
The other side of the Olympic medal honors the Games’ Greek origins. It depicts the goddess of victory, Nike, emerging from the Panathenaic Stadium, alongside the Acropolis and, for the first time ever, the Eiffel Tower. This design represents the inspiration of ancient Greece, the French roots of the modern Games, and their exciting future in Paris.
The Paralympic medal’s reverse side showcases a unique perspective – a view of the Eiffel Tower from below, etched in Braille. This design choice celebrates Paris 2024 and inclusivity, with Braille serving as a nod to accessibility and its French inventor, Louis Braille. Additionally, dashes engraved on the medal’s edge (one for gold, two for silver, and three for bronze) allow visually impaired athletes to distinguish between them.
The Paris 2024 medals are more than just awards; they are a fusion of history, athletic achievement, and Parisian spirit. Each medal, with its embedded piece of the Eiffel Tower, becomes a cherished piece of sporting history.
