Mid-Year 2016 Medal Trends: What June Briefs Tell Us 📊

Halfway through 2016, three medal-design shifts that started as January experiments are now landing in mainstream race briefs. With Rio Olympics six weeks away, the next six months will accelerate these further.

Cut-Through Silhouettes Are Mainstream

In January, CNC cut-through silhouettes appeared in roughly 10% of race briefs. Halfway through 2016, that number is closer to 35%. The visual difference on Instagram thumbnails is so significant that race directors who held out are switching for autumn events. RS Trophy now stocks generic course-silhouette cut blanks in three sizes to support last-minute orders.

Wood Accents Move From Olympic to Local

Rio’s FSC-certified wood ribbon rings inspired Thai event organizers to ask about teak and rosewood accents. The first Thai use case lands this autumn: a community marathon in Chiang Mai is commissioning teak-ring 70mm finisher medals. Expect mainstream adoption by 2017 spring race season.