Miami Marathon finisher medals spark airport security concerns

Finishers of the 2024 Miami Marathon on Jan. 28 were warned, but still, hundreds of participants went home without their medals when the TSA (Transportation Security Administration, for Canadians) confiscated the medals, likening them to deadly ninja throwing stars.

The 2024 medal is shaped like a golden sun with the event’s orange palm tree logo in the centre, designed to portray the sunrise of Miami, Miami Beach, Brickell and Coconut Grove areas (which the course runs through). The sun’s rays, however, have very sharp points–plus, it spins. In anticipation of potential issues, race organizers released a statement two days before the event, advising marathon participants to pack the medal in checked luggage or mail it home, rather than wearing it to the airport.

Ricky Deane, a 52-year-old from Elmhurst, Ill., was one of the unfortunate runners who had his medal confiscated. Deane had placed the spikey medal in his carry-on bag, leading security to remove it as a potential weapon. Now, Deane is left with only a photo and memories.

The same thing happened with half-marathon finisher Alfred Scaletta, who wore his medal while going through security on his flight to Chicago. He was told it was because the medal had a spinning feature, and now, he is requesting that the race send him a replacement.

Life Time Miami Marathon & Half Marathon: One of steamiest, most brutal ever. The reward – ample varieties of hydration & 2024 medal. Thanks early-rising spectators w/clever signs (“We’re hung over but we’re here 4 U”), DJs, bagpipers, bands, police officers! ⁦@RunMiami⁩ pic.twitter.com/XhM7sgrbut

— Linda Robertson (@lrobertsonmiami) January 28, 2024

Each year, more than 4,000 of the 18,000 participants travel to the race by plane from 49 states and 75 countries. Although the TSA website states that it allows carry-on items such as cowboy spurs, ice skates, antlers, knitting needles, cigar cutters, corkscrews, bowling balls and even fidget spinners, TSA agents have final discretion over what can be allowed on flights.

“This was proactive on our end. Once we received the initial batch of medals, we thought, Hey, you know what? Someone could misinterpret this,” Miami race director Frankie Ruiz said to the Miami Herald. “Runners love to wear them [the medals] after the race. We just wanted to give people a heads-up—it has not happened in the past—but in case there’s an agent who flags it. We’re thinking ahead for people.”