It’s only the fourth day of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, and several athletes are already facing medal mishaps. The excitement took a hit when at least four medals broke after the ceremonies began.
Take Breezy Johnson, for example. The U.S. alpine skier won her first gold by just four-hundredths of a second against Germany’s Emma Aicher. However, her medal cracked into pieces during her celebrations. “I was jumping up and down, and it fell off,” she explained, holding up the damaged medal. She humorously advised others, “Don’t jump in them.”
Alysa Liu had a similar experience with her team event gold, joking on Instagram that her medal “don’t need the ribbon” as she showcased its damage alongside a blue ribbon.
What’s going on with these medals? Olympic organizers have acknowledged the issue and are investigating the causes. Andrea Francisi, chief of operations for the organizing committee, emphasized that medals are a significant moment for athletes and they want that experience to be perfect.
Remarkably, this problem isn’t limited to just a few U.S. athletes. Biathlete Justus Strelow, celebrating his mixed relay bronze, found his medal had fallen off its ribbon and had broken, a moment caught on camera that quickly went viral. He humorously questioned, “Hey Olympics, what’s up with those medals?”
Similar stories emerged from Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson, who reported her silver medal broke after falling in the snow. “I hope they have a ‘Plan B’ for broken medals,” she said.
As for what’s causing these unexpected breaks, reports suggest a flaw in the connection between the ribbon and the medal. The design includes a breakaway mechanism for safety, designed to detach if pulled too hard. This year’s medals have a unique structure, featuring two inclined halves meant to represent movement and teamwork.
These medals aren’t just symbols of victory. A gold medal, made of 500 grams of sterling silver coated with 6 grams of pure gold, carries a value of about $2,400. The soaring prices of gold and silver have raised these figures significantly since the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time medals have faced issues. After the 2024 Paris Olympics, over 100 athletes reported deterioration in their medals, leading to requests for replacements. American skateboarder Nyjah Huston humorously noted his bronze looked like it “went to war” after a few weeks of wear.
The French mint had guaranteed that any damaged medals would be replaced, ensuring athletes received identical pieces. It remains to be seen how the 2026 Olympic organizers will handle the current challenges, but the world is watching closely.
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Breezy Johnson, Olympic medals, Milan Cortina, Ebba Andersson, fellow athletes
