The euphoria of winning an Olympic medal is often fleeting, but for several athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, the joy was cut short by a surprisingly mundane issue: their medals were falling apart. Reports have surfaced of multiple athletes experiencing medals detaching from their ribbons shortly after receiving them, prompting concern and a response from Olympic officials.
The issue first gained widespread attention after American figure skater Alysa Liu discovered her gold medal in the women’s individual event had become damaged. “I just jumped up and down with joy, like you do after a win, and the medal fell off. It literally came detached from the ribbon. It was pretty scratched and dented,” Liu explained, according to reports. While initially hoping to keep the damaged medal as a memento, she was required to return it to organizers, expressing her disappointment with a touch of humor: “I thought, ‘Can’t you just fix it? I’d already gotten attached to it.’ But it’s okay, I’ve ‘detached’ now, just like it did from the ribbon.” Reuters reported that Liu has since received a replacement medal.
Liu isn’t alone in her experience. Breezy Johnson, an American alpine skier who won gold in the downhill event, also found her medal separating from its ribbon during celebrations. She playfully presented herself to the media with an empty ribbon before producing the medal from her pocket, stating, “I was jumping up and down with excitement, and it just fell off.”
The problems extend beyond the American team. Athletes from Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Poland have also reported issues with their medals. Polish ski jumper Kacper Tomasiak, who secured a silver medal in the medium ski jump at Predazzo – one of three medals he won at the games – experienced a similar issue. According to Przegląd Sportowy Onet, Tomasiak admitted the ribbon on his medal had broken during a press conference, visibly fatigued after his performance. Ebba Andersson, Justus Strelow, and Lucia Dalmasso also experienced the issue.
The widespread nature of the problem has prompted a response from the Olympic organizing committee. Andrea Francisi, the chief operating officer for the ZIO 2026, stated, “We have seen that some medals are damaged. We have looked at the photos and are trying to determine if there is a problem. Of course, we are paying close attention to this issue, as a medal is a triumph and a dream for every athlete.”
The exact cause of the medal malfunctions remains under investigation. It’s unclear whether the issue stems from a manufacturing defect, the materials used in the ribbons, or simply the enthusiastic celebrations of the athletes. The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics have already been marked by exceptional performances, including Tomasiak’s breakthrough success, where he surpassed the achievements of Polish ski jumping legends Adam Małysz and Kamil Stoch, securing three medals in a single event. However, this hardware hiccup has added an unexpected wrinkle to the Games.
As the Games continue, organizers will undoubtedly be focused on ensuring the integrity of the remaining medals and preventing further disappointment for the athletes who have worked so hard to achieve Olympic glory. The incident highlights the importance of quality control in the production of these iconic symbols of athletic achievement.
What comes next is a thorough review of the medal production process to identify and rectify the issue. Organizers will likely require to assess the materials used and the manufacturing techniques employed to ensure that future medals can withstand the excitement of victory.
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