"On Monday organisers promised to launch an investigation into why it was happening after Winter Olympic medallists, including the American downhill skiing champion Breezy Johnson, reported chipped, cracked and damaged medals. Johnson's medal broke shortly after the podium ceremony on Saturday when she was celebrating. I was jumping up and down in excitement, then it just fell off, she told reporters, before showing off her cracked and chipped medal in one hand as the separated ribbon hung around her neck."
"Since then the Sweden cross-country skier Ebba Andersson reported that her medal fell in the snow and broke in two, before adding: Now I hope the organisers have a plan B' for broken medals. The Germany biathlete Justus Strelow has also said that his bronze medal cracked and fell on the floor during celebrations, while the US figure skater Alysa Liu posted on Instagram that the ribbon had come off her team gold medal."
Multiple Winter Olympic medallists reported medals breaking, chipping or losing ribbons during post-podium celebrations, including Breezy Johnson, Ebba Andersson, Justus Strelow and Alysa Liu. Organisers promised an investigation and pledged close attention to the medals. Officials suggested the issue may stem from the medal cord's legally required breakaway mechanism, which releases under force to prevent choking. The breakage incidents occurred during celebratory moments and when medals fell. Similar problems surfaced at Paris 2024, generating over 200 replacement requests, roughly 4% of medals awarded, indicating a recurring manufacturing or design vulnerability.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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