Milano Cortina organizers fix faulty Olympic medals

2026 Winter Olympics Medals Breaking Apart, Organizers Announce Fix

Several athletes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have discovered their medals cracking or coming apart shortly after receiving them on the podium, prompting organizers to launch an investigation and announce a repair program just days into the Games.

On Tuesday, organizers confirmed they had identified the cause of the defects and implemented a fix. “A solution was identified and a targeted intervention was implemented,” Milano Cortina 2026 Communications Director Luca Casassa said, adding that only a limited number of medals had been affected. Athletes whose medals are damaged can return them for prompt repairs.sundayguardianlive

Medalists Reveal Damaged Hardware

The problem came to light on Sunday when American downhill skier Breezy Johnson, who won Team USA’s first gold medal of the Games, displayed her broken medal during a press conference. “Do not jump in them,” she warned fellow medalists. Johnson explained that the medal’s ribbon had detached while she was celebrating her victory at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre.cbsnews

“So there’s the medal. And there’s the ribbon. And here’s the little piece that is supposed to go into the ribbon to hold the medal, and yeah, it came apart,” Johnson told reporters.people

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu, who won gold in the team event, posted a video on social media showing her medal had also separated from its ribbon. Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson reported her silver medal from the 10km + 10km skiathlon broke after falling into the snow. German biathlete Justus Strelow’s bronze medal was captured on camera clattering to the floor during celebrations.bbc

Investigation Points to Safety Mechanism

The medals were manufactured by the Italian State Mint using recycled metals and feature a distinctive design of two interlocking halves symbolizing the twin host cities of Milan and Cortina. A source close to the matter suggested the issue may involve a breakaway mechanism on the medal clasp required by law to prevent strangulation or other injuries.reuters

Andrea Francisi, the Milano Cortina 2026 Chief Games Operations Officer, addressed the issue at a press conference on Monday. “We are fully aware of the situation,” he said. “We will pay maximum attention to the medals… because this is one of the most important moments for the athletes”.people

The medal troubles follow a similar controversy at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, where more than 200 athletes requested replacements due to deterioration and tarnishing. The Winter Olympics are scheduled to run through February 22.bbc