Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games investigate medal defects

February 10, 2026 Oliver Obel

Organisers of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are investigating concerns over the quality of newly awarded medals after several athletes reported that their medals broke or detached from their ribbons shortly after competition.

Officials say the issue is being treated as a priority, as medals represent one of the most symbolic moments of the Games and are expected to last a lifetime.

The problem came into public view after Team USA skier Breezy Johnson, who won gold in the women’s downhill alpine event, experienced a malfunction during a live television interview. As she celebrated on camera, her gold medal separated from its ribbon and fell into the snow.

Reacting to the moment, a BBC reporter could be heard saying:

“Oh my gosh - that didn’t just happen. I’m really sorry about your medal.”

Johnson later explained what went wrong during her post-event press conference, holding up the broken components for journalists.

“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,” she said.

Johnson was not the only athlete affected. Alysa Liu, who won gold with the United States in the figure skating team event, posted a video on Instagram showing her medal had also detached from its ribbon.

“My medal don’t need the ribbon,” she wrote.

Similar problems were reported beyond the U.S. team. According to BBC Sport, a German biathlete who earned bronze watched his medal fall to the floor while celebrating at the Olympic village.

Organisers Acknowledge Issue

Andrea Francisi, the chief Games operations officer for Milan-Cortina 2026, confirmed that organisers are examining the problem.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Francisi said:

“We are fully aware of the situation. We are looking into exactly what the problem is.

We are going to pay maximum attention to the medals, and obviously this is something we want to be perfect when the medal is handed over because this is one of the most important moments for the athletes.”

It remains unclear whether affected athletes will receive replacement medals. A spokesperson for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee told BBC Sport that the organisation is waiting for organisers to complete their review before determining next steps.

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/2020531274348191972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2020531274348191972%7Ctwgr%5E4d18055fdf3047bd79fa05fe6f8cc4949d41fb6c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.givemesport.com%2Fwinter-olympics-organisers-investigate-why-medals-are-breaking%2F

A Familiar Olympic Concern

Questions over medal quality are not new in Olympic history. After the Paris 2024 Games, several athletes publicly complained about medals deteriorating far sooner than expected.

Months after those Games concluded, some competitors shared images of medals showing visible wear. French swimmer Clément Secchi described his medal’s surface as resembling “crocodile skin” because of its scaly appearance.

For Milan-Cortina organisers, the latest incidents risk overshadowing athletic achievement at a moment meant to celebrate excellence — underscoring why officials say resolving the issue quickly is essential.

Sources: BBC Sport