Milan Cortina launches probe after Olympic medals crack and break
Organizers of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have opened an investigation after several medals cracked or broke just minutes after being awarded to athletes during the opening weekend of competition.
The issue came to light when American downhill gold medalist Breezy Johnson revealed that her medal shattered into three pieces during celebrations following her victory on Sunday. Speaking to reporters at her post-race press conference, Johnson held up the separated parts and said the medal broke while she was jumping in excitement. She added that it was not completely destroyed but advised athletes not to jump while wearing their medals.
Johnson’s experience was not an isolated case. Television footage broadcast in Germany showed the bronze medal of biathlete Justus Strelow falling to the ground as he danced with teammates during celebrations. Fellow athletes cheered him on as Strelow tried unsuccessfully to reattach the medal, later discovering that a small component, believed to be the clasp connecting the medal to its ribbon, had also broken.
Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson reported a similar problem with her skiathlon silver medal, which broke into pieces after falling into the snow during a victory lap with teammate Frida Karlsson. Andersson told Swedish broadcaster SVT that the incident happened as she ran after Karlsson, causing the medal to snap into two parts in the snow. She expressed hope that organizers had a backup plan for damaged medals.
American figure skater Alysa Liu also highlighted a defect, posting a video on social media showing her team event gold medal detached from its official ribbon. In her caption, Liu joked that her medal did not need the ribbon.
Andrea Francisi, the Games’ chief operating officer for Milano Cortina, acknowledged the growing number of complaints during a press conference on Monday. He said organizers were fully aware of the situation and were examining images to determine the exact cause of the problem. Francisi pledged that organizers would give maximum attention to the medals to ensure they meet expectations, stressing their importance to athletes.
The medals were designed with a distinctive concept featuring two halves symbolizing the host cities of Milan and Cortina and were produced by the Italian State Mint using recycled materials. Each gold medal weighs 506 grams, or roughly 18 ounces.
Concerns over medal quality are not unprecedented. Following the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, some medals were replaced after athletes reported tarnishing and corrosion that gave them a marbled appearance.
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