In this Aug. 11, file photo, United States' Simone Biles bites her gold medal for the artistic gymnastics women's individual all-around final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Reuters reported that Olympic medals received in Rio were rusting or chipping. Dmitri Lovetsky/STF
Rowers are seen through a screen decorated with the Olympic rings as they practice at the rowing venue in Lagoa at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
David Goldman/AP
United States' Michael Phelps arrives for a men's 200-meter butterfly semifinal during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner/AP
A diver practices ahead of the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard diving final in the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
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A television inside a bicycle repair shop shows the live transmission of Brazil's Jade Barbosa during the artistic gymnastics at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
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Team United States celebrate winning the Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final on Day 5 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 10, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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Athletes compete during the Women's 3000m Steeplechase Round 1 on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
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Leidy Yessenia Solis Arboleda of Colombia reacts after lifting during the Women's 69kg Group A weightlifting contest on Day 5 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 2 on August 10, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/ Pool - Getty Images)
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Competitors take to the water before the start of the rowing event on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Lagoa Stadium on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
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Simone Biles of the United States competes on the balance beam during Women's qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Axel Augis of France competes on the horizontal bar during the Men's Individual All-Around final on Day 5 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 10, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
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Michael Phelps and Caeleb Dressel of the United States celebrate winning gold in the Final of the Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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China's Xu Lijia is reflected in a puddle as she hoses off her boat after competing in the Laser Radial women sailing race at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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(L-R) Peter Kauzer of Slovenia and Joseph Clarke of Great Britain celebrate after winning silver and gold, respectively, in the Kayak (K1) Men's Final on Day 5 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Whitewater Stadium on August 10, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Hyunhee Nam of Korea (R) and Shiho Nishioka of Japan compete during the women's individual foil on Day 5 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 3 on August 10, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
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Russia's Ekaterina Birlova casts a shadow on the sand as she serves to Poland during a women's beach volleyball match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Usain Bolt of Jamaica competes in the Men's 100 meter semifinal on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
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US gymnasts celebrate after the women's team final Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016.
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United States' Jessica Parratto, left, and Amy Cozad compete during the women's synchronized 10-meter platform diving final in the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
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Aisen Chen and Yue Lin of China compete in the Men's Diving Synchronised 10m Platform Final on Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Laura Giombini of Italy (R) reacts during the Women's Beach Volleyball preliminary round Pool D match against Jamie Lynn Broder and Kristina Valjas of Canada on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Alessandra Perilli, of San Marino, competes during the trap women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
Hassan Ammar/AP
United States' gold medal winner Simone Manuel cries during the medal ceremony for the women's 100-meter freestyle final during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
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People exercise at an outdoor gym on the shores of Guanabara Bay, where sailing competitions are taking place at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Felipe Dana/AP
Japan's Kosuke Hagino, left, celebrates his gold medal win over USA's Chase Kalisz in the 400m individual medley swimming competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Morry Gash/AP
Robert Gardos of Austria plays a Men's Singles second round match against Ovidiu Ionescu of Romania on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 3 on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Taliqua Clancy of Australia dives for the ball during the Women's Beach Volleyball preliminary round Pool F match against Natalia Alfaro and Karen Cope Charles of Costa Rica on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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A general view as the sun sets on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Kenya's Peter Mungai Warui, left, fights China's Bin LV during a men's light flyweight 49-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.
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The Men's 470 class sail back to shore after competing on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Marina da Gloria on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
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A rowing team from Italy carries their boat to the dock for a practice session at Lagoa during the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.
David Goldman/AP
United States' Katie Ledecky, right, celebrates with United States' Leah Smith after setting a new world record in the women's 400-meter freestyle final during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Martin Meissner/AP
Caeleb Dressel, left, Michael Phelps and Ryan Held, right, from the United States, celebrate after winning the gold medal in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Matt Slocum/AP
Michal Smolen of the United States competes during the kayak K1 men's heats of the Canoe Slalom at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Honduras' Alberth Elis center, is congratulated after scoring his side's first goal during a group D match of the men's Olympic football tournament between Honduras and Portugal at the Rio Olympic Stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
Leo Correa/AP
Alexander Massialas, of the United States, celebrates after defeating Italy's Giorgio Avola in a men's individual foil fencing quarterfinal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
Charlie Riedel/AP
China's Sun Yiwen, right, compete against France's Lauren Rembi in the women's individual epee fencing bronze medal match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Yiwen won the match.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Argentina's Federico Pizarro tries to score a penalty during the men's preliminary handball match between Denmark and Argentina at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
Matthias Schrader/AP
Belgium's Gaelle Mys performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
Julio Cortez/AP
Joan Losada of Spain is tackled by Juan de Jongh (12) and Cecil Afrika of South Africa during the Men's Rugby Sevens Pool B match between South Africa and Spain on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Deodoro Stadium on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
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Lilly King of the United States celebrates winning gold in the Women's 100m Breaststroke Final on Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Clive Rose/Getty Images
Montenegro's Suzana Lazovic, foreground, is stopped by Angola's Liliana da Silva Venancio, background, and Angola's Isabel Evelize W. Guialo during a women's preliminary handball match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Matthias Schrader/AP
A tattoo covers the hand of Germany's Marcel Nguyen as he waits to perform in the artistic gymnastics men's team final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Julio Cortez/AP
France's Igor Kovacevic shoots against Italy during their men's water polo preliminary round match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Sergei Grits/AP
Jonelle Price, of New Zealand, competes on Faerie Dianimo in the equestrian eventing cross country phase at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher/AP
Italy's Loreta Gullotta celebrates her victory over South Korea's Kim Jiyeon in the women's individual saber fencing event at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew Medichini/AP
Brazil's Juan Goncalves Nogueira, left, is comforted by his coach after losing to Russia's Evgeny Tishchenko in a men's heavyweight 91-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Members of team Cuba attempt to block a ball spiked by Iran's H. Milad Ebadipour Ghara during a men's preliminary volleyball match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Ricardo Vargas Jacobo of Mexico competes in the Men's 1500m Freestyle heat on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Al Bello/Getty Images The Rio Olympics experienced their fair share of problems last summer (green pool water, controversial boxing judges, basic plumbing). Now nearly nine months after the Games ended, it looks like organizers in Rio de Janeiro are still experiencing some hiccups. The latest issue has to do with medals handed out to more than 130 winners - they're rusting, chipping or as Agence France-Presse put it, "falling to pieces."
"We're seeing problems with the covering on between six or seven percent of the medals and it seems to be to do with the difference in temperatures," Rio Games communications officer Mario Andrada told reporters Friday (via AFP).
Andrada didn't go into exact details about what exactly he thought was happening, but he called it "completely normal."
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Olympic gold medals, for example, are actually just 1.34 percent gold. The rest is made of sterling silver, ABC News reports. And about 30 percent of the silver in those thousands of medals awarded in Rio came from recycled silver.
Temperature issues, however, aren't the only reason some athletes are seeing defects in their medals, according to Andrada. He said some of the defects can be blamed on the athletes.
"The most common issue is that they were dropped or mishandled and the varnish has come off and they've rusted or gone black in the spot where they were damaged," Andrada told Reuters, adding that silver medalists have seen the most problems.
Andrada said he first started hearing of issues with the medals in October, and that Rio organizers and the International Olympic Committee are now setting up a system to get the defective medals replaced by the Brazilian mint that made them.
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It's unclear whether athletes were warned about how to properly care for their medals. Organizers of the 2012 Olympics in London did that, as evidenced by an interview gold medalist Jessica Ennis gave to BBC talk show host Graham Norton that year.
The heptathlete, who took home a silver in the event in Rio, noted her 2012 gold medal came with instructions to "avoid any sort of impact or abrasion [on the medal]" and "always try to carry it in its box."
Those instructions also said to "only clean it using a soft, dry cloth . . . do not use any liquids, chemicals or abrasive substances when cleaning it." They did not appear to instruct medalists about storing it at a certain temperature.
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Medals for each Olympic Games are slightly different, however, so what may affect one given out in 2016 may not affect another given out in 2012.
The medals for the 2020 Games will be even more unique, with the promise of being the most environmentally friendly of all time. Per The Post's Cindy Boren, the medals are slated to be composed of recycled cellphones and small appliances donated by Japanese citizens.