In a disappointing turn at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, multiple athletes have reported their hard-earned medals falling apart shortly after receiving them. The culprit? Faulty ribbons detaching from the medals, turning moments of triumph into frustration. As investigations unfold, questions swirl about quality control for these symbols of peak athletic achievement.
High-Profile U.S. Gold Medal Mishaps
Two American gold medalists were among the first to spotlight the problem. Breezy Johnson, fresh off her victory in the women’s downhill alpine skiing, displayed her damaged medal during a post-event press conference. Holding up the pieces, she quipped, “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.” The simple hardware failure—a loose connector—undermined her celebratory moment.
Figure skater Alysa Liu faced a similar heartbreak after clinching gold in the U.S. team event. In a viral Instagram video, she held the medal and ribbon separately, captioning it: “My medal don’t need the ribbon.” The clip quickly amassed views, amplifying calls for fixes.
Not Just an American Issue
The glitch isn’t isolated to U.S. athletes. Germany’s bronze-winning biathlon team encountered the same problem during exuberant celebrations at their team hotel. An Instagram reel captured a medal slipping off its ribbon as athletes jumped in joy, the hardware visibly failing under minimal stress.
Andrea Francisi, the chief Games operations officer for Milan-Cortina 2026, acknowledged the reports and vowed action. “We are fully aware of the situation,” Francisi stated. “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.”
Echoes of Past Olympic Medal Scandals
This isn’t the first time Olympic medals have faced scrutiny for shoddy craftsmanship. At the Paris 2024 Summer Games, a staggering 220 replacement requests were filed due to wear and tear by February 2025. British diver Yasmin Harper, who secured Team GB’s first medal of those Games, publicly noted her bronze tarnishing prematurely. Organizers there promised replacements, but the incidents eroded trust in the medals’ durability.
Experts speculate the Milan-Cortina issues stem from design flaws in the ribbon attachment—likely a small metal loop or clasp unable to withstand jumping, swinging, or even normal handling. Medals, typically made from alloys like silver over a copper-nickel core for golds, are engineered for longevity, but the suspension system appears to be the weak link. Cold weather at the Italian venues may exacerbate material brittleness, though organizers haven’t confirmed this.
What’s Next for Affected Athletes?
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee is monitoring developments, with a spokesperson telling BBC Sport they’re awaiting resolutions from event hosts. No timeline exists for replacements, leaving athletes in limbo. Will every medal undergo rigorous stress-testing before future ceremonies? Francisi’s team promises “maximum attention,” but skeptics wonder if hasty production to meet Olympic deadlines played a role.
As the Games continue, these breakages serve as a stark reminder: even gold can’t shine if it falls apart. Athletes like Johnson and Liu deserve hardware as unbreakable as their spirits.
