Winter Games Face Scrutiny Over Faulty Olympic Medals: NPR Report
Concerns are emerging regarding the quality of medals awarded at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Athletes have reported issues, including medals detaching from ribbons and even breaking during celebrations.
Olympic Medal Issues at Milano Cortina 2026
The Winter Games have seen athletes like American skier Breezy Johnson sharing cautionary tales. After winning her gold medal, Johnson warned fellow competitors, “Don’t jump in them.” This advice follows multiple reports of medal mishaps.
Athletes’ Experiences
- Breezy Johnson experienced a malfunction where a small piece broke off, making her medal difficult to wear.
- German biathlete Justus Strelow’s medal became detached during an award ceremony, leading to an awkward moment captured on video.
- Figure skater Alysa Liu humorously displayed her medal without a ribbon, stating, “My medal don’t need the ribbon.”
- Swedish skier Ebba Andersson reported her silver medal broke in two after falling in the snow.
Response from Organizers
Luca Casassa, spokesperson for the Olympic organizing committee, acknowledged the medal issues at a press briefing. He encouraged athletes to return their faulty awards for repairs, stating, “We are re-checking all the medals to ensure athlete satisfaction.”
Design Flaws and Speculation
The medals, designed to symbolize unity in achievement, feature a safety clip intended to detach under pressure. However, experts like Doug McIndoe suggest there may be a manufacturing glitch causing some medals to fail.
Value of Olympic Medals
This year’s gold and silver medals hold significant monetary value. The price of these metals has soared due to global economic factors, with current estimates placing a gold medal’s worth around $2,300 and a silver medal at approximately $1,400. This marks the highest value for Olympic medals in a century.
Despite the issues, the true significance of an Olympic medal comes from the accomplishments it represents. As expert Peter Krauth noted, “The sentimental value of a medal is worth way more than the metal in the medal.”
