Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Medal Mishap
In an unexpected turn during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics celebrations, gold medalist Breezy Johnson and fellow competitors faced a peculiar problem: their medals were breaking. This issue arose shortly after the event’s opening weekend, prompting organizers to launch an urgent investigation.
Incidents of Medal Breakage
Johnson, who clinched the women’s downhill skiing gold, recounts her moment of joy that took an unfortunate twist.
“I jumped in excitement, and it broke,”
she stated, clarifying that while her medal wasn’t severely damaged, it did sustain a minor break.
Similar incidents were reported by other athletes, including German biathlete Justus Strelow, who experienced his mixed relay bronze medal detach from its ribbon and fall to the ground while celebrating with teammates. Strelow’s efforts to reattach the medal were thwarted when a crucial piece broke away during the dance.
U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu also shared her experience via social media, posting a video of her gold medal unfastened from its ribbon, humorously claiming,
“My medal don’t need the ribbon.”
Organizers’ Response
Andrea Francisi, who oversees operations for the Milan Cortina organizing committee, acknowledged the situation and assured that they were actively seeking solutions.
“We have seen the images and are thoroughly investigating any potential issues,”
Francisi remarked.
“We consider the athletes’ medals to be crucial symbols of their dreams, and it is imperative that everything goes smoothly during this significant moment.”
Historical Context
This is not the first time the integrity of Olympic medals has faced concerns. Previously, some medals from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris needed replacements due to complaints regarding tarnishing and corrosion, which altered their appearance significantly.
Organizers are now on high alert to ensure that the same fate does not befall the medals at this year’s Olympics, as they strive to uphold the pride and achievement represented by these awards.
Reporting contributed by AP Sports Writers Daniella Matar in Milan and Andrew Dampf in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy.
