MILAN, February 10, 2026 — Organisers of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games have rolled out a permanent fix after a small number of ceremonial medals were reported to have broken during early celebrations, offering repairs to affected athletes. The issue emerged in the opening days of the Games when several medal winners discovered their medals had detached from their ribbons, in some cases moments after leaving the podium. Photos and videos showing cracked clasps, including from U.S. athletes, quickly spread online and drew scrutiny over medal quality. The organising committee sai

MILAN, February 10, 2026 — Organisers of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games have rolled out a permanent fix after a small number of ceremonial medals were reported to have broken during early celebrations, offering repairs to affected athletes. The issue emerged in the opening days of the Games when several medal winners discovered their medals had detached from their ribbons, in some cases moments after leaving the podium. Photos and videos showing cracked clasps, including from U.S. athletes, quickly spread online and drew scrutiny over medal quality. The organising committee said the problem was traced to the ribbon clasp mechanism, not the medal itself. Officials confirmed they worked with the Italian State Mint, which manufactured the medals, to introduce a technical adjustment aimed at preventing further failures. “All athletes whose medals were affected are invited to return them for prompt repair,” said Luca Casassa, the committee’s communications director, adding that only a limited number of medals were involved. Organisers said competition schedules and ceremonies have continued without disruption, with attendance and athlete feedback remaining strong. The Milano Cortina Games run through February 2026, with officials saying quality checks will remain in place to ensure medals meet Olympic standards.

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