Medal Concerns at Milan 2026 Winter Olympics

It seems like the engineers in Milan deserve some recognition—maybe even an indestructible medal.

After many medals were reported damaged during the 2026 Winter Olympics, officials have stated that a solution is in place. Athletes who received broken medals can now exchange them for replacements.

“In response to complaints about a select few medals, our organizing committee partnered closely with the state mint responsible for their production to reevaluate the situation,” said spokesman Lucas Casassa. “A fix has been determined and implemented. Athletes with affected medals are urged to return them through the proper channels for speedy repairs.”

“Milan Cortina 2026 is dedicated to ensuring that these medals, which symbolize the apex of every athlete’s journey, uphold the highest standards of quality,” he added.

While everyone is keen on knowing who clinches the medals, it doesn’t create a good impression when the focus shifts to whether those medals will even stay on the winners’ necks.

There may be a potential issue linked to the clasp and ribbon of the medals, as noted by an official. Reportedly, the medals feature a legal release mechanism to prevent choking or other injuries; a mechanism that also allows them to detach if yanked with force.

The Olympic Committee likely hopes this adjustment will significantly lessen, if not completely eradicate, the number of athletes exploring subpar medals.

American figure skater Alisa Liu shared a video on Instagram of her gold medal ribbon being sliced off, while Breezy Johnson, a gold medalist in downhill skiing, displayed her medal during a press conference.

2026 Winter Olympics

The German biathlon team even chimed in with an Instagram post, pondering the fate of their medals.

“I got too excited and jumped in, and it broke,” Johnson commented over the weekend. “It’s not completely broken, just a bit.”

Jake Paul’s fiancée, Jutta Lierdam, posted a TikTok celebrating her gold medal, only to have it disconnect halfway through her video.

“I broke it,” she remarked, with Paul adding, “Oh, it just keeps breaking. I’ll fix it again.”

American skier Jacqueline Wiles, the latest medalist to deal with medal issues, celebrated her third-place finish recently, stating, “Things got a bit out of control, but it’s fine. They’ve already repaired it.”