The celebration of American skier Breezy Johnson's victory in the downhill event at the Cortina d'Ampezzo was marred when her gold medal broke into two pieces shortly after she was crowned. This incident, which garnered a mix of astonishment and humor, raised concerns about the quality of Olympic medals and drew sarcastic remarks about Italy's reputation for engineering, despite its well-known brands such as Ferrari and Fiat. Johnson's reaction reflected frustration as she was momentarily on high spirits from her win, only to confront an unexpected issue with her prize after less than fifteen minutes.

Following Johnson's incident, reports surfaced indicating that she was not alone in her struggles with the medals. Other athletes, including American figure skater Alysa Liu, also found that their medals could not withstand the jubilant celebrations. Liu humorously shared a video capturing the moment where she held her gold medal in one hand while the ribbon remained in the other. These instances prompted significant questions regarding the manufacturing quality and reliability of the medals, putting a shadow over what should be a moment of pride and achievement for the athletes.

Amid these concerns, the Italian Olympic Committee has stated that they will investigate the matter with all due diligence to ascertain whether the medals met expected standards of quality. This scrutiny not only emphasizes the international pride linked with Olympic medals but also highlights the potential for embarrassment for the host country. As the Games continue, both athletes and officials may remain on alert regarding any further issues with awards that are meant to symbolize the pinnacle of athletic achievement.