
Olympic medals are already falling apart, and we’re not even a week in
Global News
Several athletes have reported issues with their medals, saying they aren't able to withstand celebrations. Officials are investigating.
Organizers of the 2026 Winter Olympics say they’re investigating why medals are breaking — not even one week into the Games — after some athletes reported issues.
Team USA alpine ski racing gold medallist Breezy Johnson revealed during a press conference that the ribbon of her sporting hardware had broken away from the metal shortly after she was presented with the prize.
“So there’s the medal. And there’s the ribbon,” she said, showing the lone blue sash to a room full of reporters. “And here’s the little piece that is supposed to go into the ribbon to hold the medal, and yeah, it came apart.”
“I was jumping up and down in excitement, then it just fell off,” she continued, before holding up the detached gold pendant.
“I’m sure somebody will fix it…. It’s not like crazy broken, but it’s a little broken,” she added, before warning a fellow athlete not to jump while wearing the medal.
Similarly, Alysa Liu, Team USA figure skating gold medallist, revealed that her medal had broken apart shortly after she won it.
“My medal don’t need the ribbon,” she wrote in an Instagram video showing off the separated elements.
Fellow team event gold medallist Ellie Kam said Liu, her roommate, was jumping for joy when the medal fell and picked up “a couple of dents.”
