Renowned micro-sculptor unveils world’s smallest Olympic mascot for Paris 2024

A renowned micro-sculptor has unveiled the world’s smallest Olympic mascot that fits in the eye of a pin to celebrate the 2024 Games in Paris.

British sculptor Dr. Willard Wigan, who has created the world’s smallest handmade micro-art, meticulously created a miniature version of the Olympic mascot, Phryge, in a feat that involved holding his breath, working between heartbeats and use his pulse as a jackhammer.

The hand-made microscopic version of the official mascot, the smallest in Olympia history, can be seen holding a medal that was made of 24-carat gold and is about the size of a blood cell.

Dr Wigan also used an eyelash as a brush to capture the French flag, and the Olympic rings adorning the mascot’s chest were also made from 24 carat gold.

The micro-sculptor, who holds a Guinness World Record for the world’s smallest hand-made sculpture, said: “I saw the Phryge mascot and thought it was so cute, I wanted to create something that captured the essence of smallest possible scale.

“I never enjoy the process, but the joy comes from the reaction people have when they see it.”

The artwork, which uses a microscopic magnet to secure the mascot’s legs, took five weeks to complete, with Dr Wigan working around 16 hours a day on the project.

He hopes the micro-sculpture will travel to Paris to be displayed during the Olympics to allow visitors to see his work.

The official Paris 2024 mascots Phryges are modeled after the famous Phrygian caps, which are “a symbol of revolution, the French Republic and freedom,” according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).