The Olympic medal is a cherished symbol of achievement, representing years of hard work and dedication. However, this year’s Winter Games in Milan have seen unexpected issues with these prized awards. Some athletes are reporting problems with their medals—specifically, that they are breaking or detaching from their ribbons.
American skier Breezy Johnson exemplified this experience when her medal broke during her celebrations. “I was jumping in excitement and it broke,” she shared. Another athlete, German biathlete Justus Strelow, also had a memorable moment when his medal fell off, captured live on camera. These incidents have sparked discussions around the durability of what should be a lasting memory of success.
In a recent press briefing, Luca Casassa, spokesperson for the Olympic organizing committee, acknowledged the issue with the medals. He mentioned that they are working on a solution and are encouraging athletes to return any faulty medals for repairs. “We want their joy to be complete,” he said, emphasizing the importance of these awards.
The design of this year’s medals could be contributing to the problems. Raffaella Paniè, who helped design the medals, noted that they include a safety feature—a clip meant to detach under pressure. This was a measure to prevent injury, but it has led to speculation about whether some clips are not functioning properly. Doug McIndoe, an expert from the Medal Collectors of America, suggested that there might be a manufacturing glitch at play. He explained that even slight variations in the mold could affect how well the clip secures the medal.
Historically, the approach to Olympic medals has evolved. In Roman times, medals were often simply held in hand or displayed. It wasn’t until the 1960s that medals started to be worn around athletes’ necks. Despite current design flaws, these 2026 medals are actually worth more than they have been in decades due to rising prices for gold and silver. Precious metals expert Peter Krauth noted that a gold medal might currently be valued at around $2,300, nearly double what it was two years ago.
Despite the hiccups, the real significance of these medals lies in the achievements they represent. As Krauth points out, “The sentimental value of a medal is worth way more than the metal in the medal.”
In today’s social media climate, reactions to the medal mishaps have also gone viral. Athletes like Alysa Liu have taken to platforms like Instagram to humorously showcase their ribbon-less medals, turning a frustrating experience into an engaging narrative for fans.
This blend of ambition and unexpected challenges underlines the Olympic spirit—celebrating not just the victories, but the journey, even when it comes with a few bumps along the way.
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