The Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina is currently facing controversy as several athletes have reported that their medals have broken during celebratory moments. Among those affected are prominent athletes such as American downhill skiing champion Breezy Johnson, Swedish cross-country skiing champion Ebba Andersson, American figure skating champion Alysa Liu, and German biathlete Justus Strelo, who all experienced unfortunate incidents, particularly during victory jumps. The issue has raised concerns regarding the quality and durability of the medals awarded at such a prestigious event.

Justus Strelo took the matter into his own hands by attempting to repair his broken medal, although this resulted in some scratches. The German team even posted a video on Instagram questioning the quality control of the medals provided at the Olympics, adding to the growing scrutiny. Breezy Johnson expressed her disappointment, remarking how a moment of excitement turned unfortunate when her medal broke during a jump, emphasizing the fragility of the awards.

Andrea Franceschi, the head of operations for the games, acknowledged the situation to reporters and assured that an investigation into the nature of the problem is underway. This incident could have larger implications for future Olympic events in terms of the manufacturing standards set for awards, and it raises awareness about the need for ensuring athletes receive medals that reflect the honor of their achievements.