Athletes competing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have encountered significant issues with their medals, which have been reported to break easily, leading the organizing committee to launch an official investigation. The problem surfaced just over a week into the games, raising concerns among medal winners about the durability of the medals they are receiving. Andrea Pracisi, the Chief Operating Officer of the Olympic Committee, acknowledged the issue during a press conference on September 9, stating that photos of the damaged medals have been reviewed and investigations into the causes are underway with a commitment to resolving the issue completely.

A notable incident involves American alpine skier Bridge Johnson, who won a gold medal and, during an interview shortly after the award ceremony, was seen with only the ribbon around her neck, having accidentally dropped her broken medal. Johnson recounted how her excitement led to the medal falling apart, a sentiment echoed by athletes from other countries who reported similar cases of their medals splitting or detaching from their ribbons during celebrations. In another instance, German biathlete Justus Strelo celebrated with his mixed relay bronze medal only to find it fell apart, while Swedish cross-country skier Eva Anderson shared how hers shattered upon hitting the snow.

In assessing these incidents, some experts speculate the issue may be linked to a 'breakaway safety mechanism' that is meant to protect athletes by detaching from strong forces. This device, while intended as a safety precaution, raises questions about the design and weight of the medals themselves, which weigh approximately 500 grams for gold and silver and 420 grams for bronze. As athletes express their frustrations on social media, including U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu, who humorously remarked that her medal doesn’t need its ribbon, the Olympic Committee faces mounting pressure to address these medal durability concerns before the events progress further.