Winter Olympics officials have announced they will replace medals that cracked and broke during the early days of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, following a series of embarrassing incidents that saw athletes' hard-won awards damaged. The organising committee has identified the root cause of the problem and implemented a targeted fix to ensure future medals meet the highest standards.
Champion's Medal Malfunction Sparks Investigation
The issue came to light when American downhill skiing champion Breezy Johnson revealed that her gold medal had fallen off its ribbon as she celebrated her victory. Johnson showed the broken medal to the media, highlighting a problem that organisers initially described as affecting only a small number of awards.
Speaking at the daily Milano Cortina briefing, spokesman Luca Cassasa confirmed that the organising committee had worked closely with the State Mint, which produced the medals, to review the matter. "A solution has been identified, and a targeted fix has been put in place," Cassasa stated. "Athletes whose medals have been affected are encouraged to return them through the appropriate channels so that they can be promptly repaired and returned."
Breakaway Mechanism Identified as Culprit
The problem was traced to the medal's cord, which features a breakaway mechanism required by Italian law. This system is designed to release automatically if pulled with force, preventing the wearer from being choked. However, this safety feature inadvertently led to medals detaching from their ribbons under normal celebratory conditions.
Cassasa emphasised the committee's commitment to quality, saying: "Milano Cortina 2026 remains fully committed to ensuring that medals, which represent the pinnacle of every athlete's journey, meet the highest standards of quality and care."
Multiple Athletes Report Similar Problems
Other competitors have experienced similar issues with their medals. Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson reported that her medal "fell in the snow and broke in two" after detachment. American figure skater Alysa Liu also posted on Instagram that the ribbon had come off her team gold medal, adding to the growing number of complaints.
The spokesman admitted that organisers do not know the precise number of medals that have been broken or damaged. "But it is important to stress that, as a precaution, we are rechecking all the medals to make sure that the athletes' joy can really be 360 degrees when they conquer something which is so precious and so important for them, but also for us, the supporters," Cassasa added.
Organisers Promise Comprehensive Solution
Officials have promised to repair any medals awarded during the opening three days of competition, once the issue was formally identified on Monday. The organising committee's swift response aims to maintain the integrity of the Games and ensure athletes receive medals that properly commemorate their achievements.
This incident has drawn attention to the quality control processes for Olympic medals, with organisers now implementing additional checks to prevent future occurrences. The commitment to replacing affected medals demonstrates the importance placed on preserving the symbolic value of these awards for all competitors.
