Winter Olympics investigates why medals are breaking
The Winter Olympics has launched a probe into why some of its medals have broken in half, with several athletes reporting issues, notably including at least four Olympians who revealed their medals snapped off their ribbons shortly after they received them, reports BritPanorama.
American Breezy Johnson, who won gold in alpine skiing, experienced this firsthand when her medal broke during a celebratory moment. “So there’s the medal. And there’s the ribbon,” she remarked, noting that the piece that was supposed to secure the medal was now missing.
This breakaway mechanism seems to have been triggered during celebrations, as pressure is applied. US figure skater Alysa Liu encountered a similar situation, posting a video on TikTok where her medal was seen decoupled from the ribbon. Liu quipped, “My medal don’t need the ribbon.”
The root of this problem might stem from Italian law, which apparently necessitates a breakaway feature in design to prevent choking hazards. This feature could be easily engaged during moments of exuberance, resulting in unintentional damage. Johnson’s experience is not isolated; German biathlete Justus Strelow’s medal broke during celebrations after he claimed bronze in the mixed relay, while Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson had her silver medal snap unexpectedly. Andersson remarked to Swedish broadcaster SVT, “The medal fell in the snow and broke in two. Now I hope the organisers have a Plan B for broken medals.”
In response to these incidents, Andrea Francisi, chief games operation officer for Milan-Cortina 2026, acknowledged the situation, stating, “We are fully aware of the situation. We are looking into exactly what the problem is.” He emphasized the importance of ensuring medals are fit for purpose at the pivotal moment of awarding them to athletes.
The design of the medals features a disc of ice made up of two halves united by the Olympic and Paralympic symbols. However, the games have not yet confirmed whether athletes with broken medals will receive replacements. A related incident occurred during the last Summer Games in Paris, where over 200 athletes requested replacements due to wear and tear of their awards.
This ongoing situation highlights not only the practical difficulties athletes face in celebratory moments but also serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in event planning and execution at this scale.
