The euphoria of Olympic victory in Milano Cortina is proving…fragile. A surprising trend has emerged: medals are breaking during celebrations, leaving athletes with fragmented symbols of their hard-won achievements.
It began with Breezy Johnson, the American downhill skiing gold medalist. Her unrestrained joy – a celebratory jump – proved too much for the delicate construction of her prize. The medal detached from its ribbon, a stark reminder that even triumph has its limits.
Johnson, quick to warn her fellow competitors, showed silver medalist Emma Aicher the separated pieces at a press conference. “I was jumping in excitement, and it broke,” she explained, acknowledging the damage wasn’t catastrophic, but undeniably present.
She wasn’t alone. US figure skater Alysa Liu documented her own medal mishap on social media, playfully captioning a video of the broken ribbon: “My medal don’t need the ribbon.” The clip quickly circulated, highlighting the growing issue.
The mishaps continued. German biathlete Justus Strelow experienced a similar fate during his team’s mixed relay bronze celebration, his medal tumbling to the floor as the ribbon snapped. The German team playfully questioned the medal’s durability online, asking, “Are they not meant to be celebrated?”
Even a more subdued celebration couldn’t guarantee a medal’s integrity. Swedish skier Ebba Andersson’s silver medal came apart as she ran with gold medalist Frida Karlsson, a small pin giving way under the strain. She jokingly admitted trying to keep pace with Karlsson may have been a mistake.
Olympic organizers are now investigating the issue, acknowledging the significance of the medal as the ultimate symbol of an athlete’s dream. Andrea Francisi, the chief operations officer, stated they are working to understand the problem and ensure future medals withstand the weight of celebration.
The broken medals serve as a peculiar, and somewhat ironic, testament to the intense emotion and exhilaration of the Winter Olympics. They are a reminder that even the most carefully crafted symbols of success can be vulnerable to the raw power of human joy.
